Desmond hears you and replies “aw shit, are the plates cracked? I’ll look into getting them fixed. Sorry for that!”\n\n[[a. Tell him you would really appreciate it and change the channel on the TV.|Scene 23]]
You arrive back from work and find your husband still at home. You immediately question him about the overdue bills. He tries to wiggle out of the conversation but you stop him and demand the truth. He sighs and explains he was let go several weeks ago and hasn’t had the heart to tell you. He thought he would have a new job by now but things haven’t been going his way. Exactly like last time.\n\n[[a. You’re silent. You walk directly out the door and get in your car to clear your head.|Scene 15]]\n\n[[b. You brush past Desmond and walk to your room to start packing some clothes.|Scene 16][$HitWife += 1]]
<<set $Married to "yes">>June 2015. You’ve been married and living together for months. Money has been tight but the two of you are getting by. You’re up early because you’ve been feeling sick. Desmond usually checks the mail, but today he’s sleeping in so you decide to take care of it. You pull out the utility bill and notice two payments are overdue.\n\n[[a. Leave a note explaining you need to talk and get to work. You’re already late.|Scene 13]]\n\n[[b. Wake up Desmond and confront him immediately.|Scene 14][$HitHusband += 1]]
You smell a burning from the kitchen.\n\nDesmond’s mom: “Shit! The turkey is ruined!” \n\nDesmond’s father: “It’s fine, it’s fine. Grab your things, we’ll take everybody out for dinner.”\n\nDesmond’s mom: “You know we can’t. You spent the last of your check on this dinner.”\n\nDesmond’s father: “That doesn’t concern Desmond. Can I speak with you in the kitchen please?”\n\nYou hear hushed whispering. The tone of both parents becomes more and more aggressive until you hear a plate smash on the floor. Desmond rushes into the kitchen, calms them down, and offers to pay for dinner. The rest of the night was almost pleasant but the fight stays in the back of your mind. When you arrive home, you start asking about went on back there. Desmond isn’t very receptive and doesn’t seem to want to discuss the issue any further.\n\n[[a. Keep pushing for it. You’re worried about what could be going on.|Scene 22][$HitWife += 1]]\n\n[[b. Let it go. He’ll talk to you when he’s ready.|Scene 12][$LetItGo = "yes"]]
Christmas 2013. You knock on the door. There are Christmas decorations all over the house and snow all over the ground. You’re warmly invited in and greeted by Desmond’s parents. You chat in the living room for a bit until Desmond’s mother calls out that dinner is ready.\n\n[[a. Offer to help out.|Scene 11]]\n\n[[b. Continue chatting while you sit down at the table.|Scene 11]]
Desmond gets excited and starts listing the bars he and his friends visited. He describes the shenanigans he got into and some of the better conversations he had with his buddies. You mention you called him a couple times but it wasn’t an enormous deal. Desmond apologizes profusely explaining his friend had spilt a drink onto his phone earlier in the night, frying it.\n\n[[a. That’s all right. You’re just glad he’s home safe.|Scene 19]]
September 2015. You’ve worked things out with Desmond and he’s been working his new job for several weeks, along with taking care of you hand and foot. He’s requested a night out with friends since he hasn’t had one in months and you hesitantly obliged but made him promise to keep his phone handy in case you call. A few hours after he leaves you begin feeling cramps and start to worry. You make a few phone calls to Desmond but he doesn’t answer so you leave a voicemail or three. Desmond stumbles through the door laughing and shouting goodbye to his friends as their taxi drives away. You’re sitting in the living room, watching TV and waiting up for him.\n\n[[a. “Hey, where have you been?”|Scene 17]]\n\n[[b. “How was your night?”|Scene 18][$HitWife += 1]]
You’re driving. You don’t know where you’re going but you’ve been in the car for half an hour. The same feeling that woke you up this morning creeps up again. Nausea. You immediately pull over and blow chunks into the ditch. You took the test yesterday but \nyou didn’t believe it and pushed it into the back of your mind. You’re pregnant.\n\n[[a. You’ve got to turn around. There’s nothing else you can do.|Scene 16]]
You rush back into your bedroom while shouting Desmond’s name. He doesn’t respond. You’ve reached the bed. Before you know it you’ve slapped Desmond and he’s alert and upset. You apologize profusely to calm him down. Before long, he’s composed and you bring up the overdue bills. He tries to wiggle out of the conversation but you stop him and demand the truth. He sighs and explains he was let go several weeks ago and hasn’t had the heart to tell you. He thought he would have a new job by now but things haven’t been going his way. Exactly like last time.\n\n[[a. You’re silent. You walk directly out the door and get in your car to clear your head|Scene 15]]\n\n[[b. You brush past Desmond and walk to your room to start packing some clothes.|Scene 16][$HitWife += 1]]
January 2016. You’re 6 months into pregnancy and feeling irritable. You’ve just been told by your family that your grandmother recently passed away. She left you her good china that should arrive in the mail today. When the doorbell rings, Desmond gets up to answer it and comes back with your heavy package. You’re too excited and ask Desmond to start unpacking it so you can see all the nostalgic dinnerware from your childhood. Desmond rips the box and starts pulling pieces out. You notice he’s not handling them as carefully as you would and eventually hear a loud sound as a stack of plates hit the table. A few of the plates are cracked.\n\n[[a. "Hey!"|Scene 20][$HitHusband += 1]]\n\n[[b. “Whoa, be more careful, those are delicate!”|Scene 21]]
Desmond spreads his arms, smiles, and exclaims, “best night I’ve had in months!”\n\n“What’s that supposed to mean?”\n\nDesmond immediately drops his smirk. “Oh shit, no babe, I’m sorry, I-”\n\n“Stop. I don’t want to hear it. I’m sorry I’m such a burden on you but I’ve been sitting here in pain all night!”\n\nDesmond rushes over to pull you into his arms. You push him off but he continues to struggle to get close to you. In an attempt to get you to stop, he grabs both your wrists and pulls them to your sides.\n\n“Stop! You’re hurting me!”\n\nHe let’s go. Both of you stop. Your wrists are already red and obviously going to bruise. \n\nDesmond is panting hard and standing still as you quickly rush to your room and lock the door.\n\n[[a. Struggle to fall asleep while your wrists throb in pain|Scene 19]]
<<if ($HitHusband > 1) or ($HitWife > 1)>>\nDomestic Abuse Adventure\n<<else if $Married is "yes">>\nMarriage Adventure\n<<else>>\nDating Adventure!\n<<endif>>
\n\nDebug output:\nScene title: <<print $yay>>\nHitHusband: <<print $HitHusband>>\nHitWife: <<print $HitWife>>\nLetItGo: <<print $LetItGo>>
You anxiously wait for Desmond to get home. Late in the night you hear the front door shut and watch your husband walk in. As he enters, you start apologizing profusely. “I’m so sorry about earlier. I never should’ve brought your parents up and I know it. You’ll never hear me talk about them again. I love you.”\n\n[[a. Hug Desmond and fall asleep in his arms.|Scene 27]]
February 2021. Desmond got a promotion a few years back and moved up into management. You’ve been busy with your job and taking care of Ben. Your lives have gotten in the way of any intimacy the two of you used to share. You haven’t done anything for each other since your kid was born.\n\nA couple days before Valentine’s Day, you receive a risqué text from your husband. It’s completely unlike him to flirt electronically so you immediately become suspicious.\n\n[[a. What the hell? Immediately confront Desmond when he gets home.|Scene 28][$HitHusband += 1]]\n\n[[b. Don’t reply and see if he brings it up.|Scene 29]]
“Excuse me? You don’t know them. You don’t know their life. You don’t know how I was raised. You don’t get to talk about them like that. I told you not to bring this up again. Do you really want to go there? Would that make you happy? To know my mom and I were hit by my dad? That we were constantly in fear for our lives around him? You know what? I’m done with this. We’re not talking about this. I may be back later.” \n\nDesmond slams the door as he leaves.\n\n[[a. Cry.|Scene 26]]
Desmond answers “shit. You’re right. We need to be more open about this. I’m sorry, okay? I’ll try and scrape something together for the groceries.”\n\n[[a. You thank him for not freaking out at your vicious comment and thank him again for going out for groceries.|Scene 27]]
“It’s always been like that, okay?” Desmond answers.\n\n“Been like what? Disrespectful?”\n\n“What are you trying to say? Am I disrespectful too?” Desmond asks.\n\n“That’s not what I meant, I just-“\n\nDesmond interrupts you, clearly livid. “I know what you meant. Look, I’ve never felt safe around my dad, okay? Is that what you wanted to hear? I know things haven’t been great between us lately but maybe we should see how well you can do on your own.”\n\n“No, oh my god, please. I didn’t mean anything by it. Can we just calm down?”\n\nDesmond replies, “You know what? I need to take a breath. I may be back tonight. Maybe not.”\n\n[[a. Cry. Beg Desmond not leave as he walks out the door.|Scene 12]]
April 2016. You’re the mother of a young baby boy named Benjamin. You’ve been on maternity leave a few weeks and you and the baby are healthy. Desmond is just getting home from work. He’s had a tough day at the office and you’ve had a busy day with Ben. \n\nYou ask Desmond if he would pick up a couple things for you and Ben from the store. Desmond refuses and says “Look, I just got home, the boss is up my ass again, and we really can’t afford it right now, can we wait until my paycheck comes in?”\n\n“Is it that bad? How soon do you think I’ll have to get back to work? I need these things for Ben.”\n\nDesmond isn’t happy. “Why are you saying that? We don’t need to be mad about this stuff in front of Ben.”\n<<nobr>>\n<<set $HitHusband += 1>>\n<<endnobr>><<if $LetItGo is "yes">>\n[[a. “Oh. I didn’t realize we became your parents.”|Scene 24][$HitWife += 1]]\n<<else>>\n[[a. “Oh. I didn’t realize we became your parents.”|Scene 25]]\n<<endif>>
Desmond doesn’t hear you and continues unpacking carelessly. The sounds of the china cover you up.\n\n“I said ‘Hey!’”\n\nYou know it’s not a good idea but your feelings get the better of you and you whip the TV remote at your husband.\n\n“What??” Desmond yells out.\n\n“What do you mean what?? Quit being so thoughtless, those are from my grandmother! You’re acting like an idiot!”\n\n“Ok ok. I’m sorry, I’ll be more careful, just chill out!”\n\n[[a. “It’ll be okay. I’ll get over it. Now can you hand me the remote?”|Scene 23]]
Bilal Masood\nArturo Perez\nAlex Ross\nZijie Zhou
/*postrender.StoryFooter = function(A) {\n\tstate.history[0].variables["yay"] = this.title;\n var foot = tale.get("StoryFooter");\n if (foot.id !== undefined) {\n new Wikifier(A, foot.processText());\n }\n}*/
Access twine variable $variablename in JS with\n\nstate.history[0].variables["variablename"]
You’re pissed. Desmond walks in the door and you instantly scold him.\n\n“Who the hell was that text really for? Someone at work? What is going on with you?!”\n\n“What are you talking abo-” You cut Desmond off.\n\n“Was it that new secretary of yours? I’ve seen you look at her! I’ve even seen her looking at you! Did you really think I wouldn’t find out??”\n\n“IT WAS FOR YOU! All right? I read it would help. Things haven’t been like they used to between us and I thought something new would change things. How could you think I was cheating on you? You know how much I love you and Ben! I could never do that to the two of you. You mean the world to me.” Desmond explains.\n\n[[a. “Oh my god, I’m so sorry. I haven’t been myself lately. I know how much you do for Ben and me. You brought up marriage counseling before and now I’m thinking it may not be such a bad idea.” You hug Desmond and hold him close.|Ending]]
Desmond gets home from work, rushes up to you, and gives you a kiss. He asks “Did you get my text?”\n\n[[a. You blush and kiss him back. “I loved it.”|Ending]]
<<nobr>><<set $HitWife to 0>>\n<<set $LetItGo to "no">>\n<<set $HitHusband to 0>>\n<<set $Married to "no">>\n<<endnobr>>April 2012. “It’s been months, you’ve gotta get out there again. A friend of mine knows this great guy. He’ll be at Marion’s tonight.”\n\n[[a. Dress up and meet him|Scene 3]]\n\n[[b. Reluctantly meet him|Scene 3]]\n\n[[c. Refuse to leave the house, get in your jammies, and sit on the couch|Scene 2]]\n\n
<<if $HitWife >= 3>>\nLove has made you stay this long, but Desmond pushed it too far this time. Nothing will be easy about this but you’ve read up on the best ways to get out. You’ve failed at love but you won’t fail at this. You let your friend know you’re going to need a place to stay because you’re not sure how Desmond is going to react to you leaving. He may hurt you, spread horrible rumors, or cut off all your assets completely. You’re leaving and nothing Desmond can say or do will stop you because you’re prepared. You’ve got a few accounts Desmond can’t touch, your friends and family know this is a possibility, and you’ve steeled yourself emotionally against letting him keep you. It’s going to be incredibly difficult but after all you’ve put up with, you’re not going to let anything else get in the way of you being happy.\n<<else if $HitHusband >= 3>>\nYou’ve pushed Desmond too far this time. He’s tried to forget and forgive your last few cruelties but whether you know it or not, you’ve hurt him too many times. Your marital assets aren’t much so that won’t stop him and he’ll always love you, but he knows he has to leave to feel the freedom and happiness he hasn’t had in a very long time.\n<<else>>\nYou did it! Things aren’t amazing, but you’ve got the time and support to fix that. You’re raising a wonderful kid together and he’s going to make you want to be better people. You know what it’s like to abuse and be abused by your spouse, whether it was physical or verbal. You’ve hurt one another in the past but you’re going to put it all behind you and work together for a much happier future together.\n<<endif>>\n\n
[[Scene 1]]\n\n<<set $HitWife to 0>>\n\n<<set $LetItGo to "no">>\n\n<<set $HitHusband to 0>>\n\n<<set $Married to "no">>
September 2013. It’s your second year together. Desmond wants you to meet his parents for Christmas.\n\n[[a. “I can’t wait!”|Scene 10]]
May 2012. You meet up a few more times, go on some dates, and decide to make things serious.\n\n[[a. Sounds good to me.|Scene 9]]
The two of you laugh, talk, and enjoy the rest of the night together until the party dies down. Desmond hands you a slip of paper with his number on it as he starts to leave.\n\n[[a. You gladly take it, smile, and tell him how happy you are to meet him|Scene 8]]\n\n[[b. You hesitate, but take the number and wish him a good night|Scene 8]]
When you return, Desmond is wrestling with his friends. He’s laughing like it’s a joke but you’re not sure if they think it’s funny. He notices you reentering and immediately shoves off his friends to rejoin you. “Hey, where you been?” he smiles as he slides an arm around you.\n\n[[a. You grin and sit down on the couch in the corner.|Scene 7]]
You’ve gotten halfway through your drink and lost track of how many he’s had. You haven’t touched yours in a while. Desmond asks, “You gonna finish that?”\n\n[[a. “I don’t know if I can.” He gladly takes the drink and finishes it off while you go to the bathroom.|Scene 6]]\n\n[[b. “No, but it’s getting a little warm.” You get up and throw out your drink in the kitchen.|Scene 6]]
“Oh, I know Marion from school. I wasn’t gonna come at first, but now I’m glad I did. Wanna get a drink?”\n\n[[a. “Yah, sure! What do you like best?” You prepare a couple drinks and start shooting the shit.|Scene 5]]
You’ve greeted everyone happily at the party and he’s all that’s left. He notices and walks over to greet you.\n\n“Hey, my name is Desmond. What’s yours?”\n\n[[a. He's cute. “My name’s April! So what brought you here?”|Scene 4]]
“Remember that guy I told you about last week? He’s coming over tonight for our party!”\n\n[[a. Dress up and meet him|Scene 3]]\n\n[[b. Reluctantly meet him|Scene 3]]