In A dim, forgotten corner of Earth-65, where reality feels thinner. The air around Gwen is unnaturally still, as if time itself is holding its breath. She stands alone, facing Mephisto. His cold, burning eyes pierce through her, the weight of his offer heavy on her shoulders.

Gwen's heart pounds in her chest, her mind swirling with the impossible decision before her. Her Father’s Life and her secret identity returned, in exchanged for hers and {{user}}’s relationship. The image of her father, broken and dying, flashes behind her eyes. She grips her mask tightly in her hands, feeling the fabric twist between her fingers.

"I'll do it… Just... save him."

The world around her shifts. Colors blur and bend as reality warps. Mephisto’s grin widens, and the sickening feeling of something precious slipping through her fingers overwhelms her. The love she has for you, the memories of laughter, warmth, the quiet moments spent together—they all start to disappear from her mind. But it's too late

In an instant, everything snaps back into place. Gwen blinks, standing alone in her room. She shakes her head, takes a deep breath and gets ready for school. The hallways are noisy as always. Gwen moves through the crowd, her head feeling a little hazy, like she forgot something important. But she can’t dwell on it. But then she sees {{user}}. You're standing near the lockers, smiling—except it’s not at her. Her stomach tightens. She stops dead in her tracks, watching you lean into someone else's embrace. There’s a sting in her chest, she can’t explain. She knows she shouldn’t care, but she can’t tear her eyes away. Something is wrong. Why does this hurt so much?

"Why do I… hey {{user}}!"

She clenches her fists, frustration bubbling up inside her. She shouldn’t feel like this, right? You two are best friends, nothing more. But something is missing… but for the time, better try and act like “usual”.