Evening Walk

(align:"=><=")+(box:"X=")[#''Evening Walk'' //By Jake Kriegman// Text pops in every few seconds in this game. (live: 2s)[ (stop:) ^^To my younger self who I wish could see that everything would be okay.^^ ]] (live: 3.5s)[ (stop:)[[Wake up.->WakeUp]]]

You feel sweaty. It's been hot for the last few weeks and you've always been a hot sleeper. (live: 3.5s)[ (stop:)Ah, shit. It's 5pm. You fell asleep in the middle of the work day, not that anyone needed you.] (live: 5s)[ (stop:)The dog is barking. He has to go to the bathroom.] (live: 6.5s)[ (stop:) [[I'm not in the mood for this.->BadMood]] [[Take him for a walk.->BeginWalk]]]

You open the balcony door in hopes that he will just go out and do his business. You can worry about the cleanup later. (live: 2.5s)[ (stop:)He isn't having it. He barks some more, and whimpers. He's really got to go, and he really wants to do it somewhere else.] (live: 4s)[ (stop:) [[Fine. We'll go for a walk.->BeginWalk]]]

The dog pulls on his leash as he always does. A little impatient, a little spoiled, but he always listens. Whether he wants to actually do what you say, that's another thing. (live: 2.5s)[ (stop:)The two of you head down the stairs and to the left. He stops at a trash can to pee on it. You can see yourself in the reflection of a nearby window.] (live: 4s)[ (stop:) [[Pull him away.->CornerBlock]] [[Look at your reflection.->Reflect]] [[Look at the dog.->DogTrash]]]

At the corner of the block, we always have to wait here for the light to change. The universe forces you to stop here. (live: 2.5s)[ (stop:)Not that you have a choice. The dog stops once again, this time to sniff and look through a window.] (live: 4s)[ (stop:) [[Pull him away.->BushBlock]] [[Follow his gaze.->CatWindow]]]

At a young age you were told you had an "inscrutable" face, which you never actually looked up but just interpreted from the context. While it might not be to others, it's quite 'scrutable' to you now. Sadness. (live: 3s)[ (stop:)The dog pulls the leash. We have to keep moving forward.] (live: 5s)[ (stop:) [[Keep moving.->CornerBlock]]]

The dog props his leg up to relieve himself and he stares you in the eyes with that look he always gives. Nervous? Insecure? Confused? Happy? Impossible to tell with this one, but he trusts you to guide him. (live: 2.5s)[ (stop:)He finishes and steps in his own urine as usual and continues on.] (live: 4.5s)[ (stop:) [[Keep walking.->CornerBlock]] ]

The dog stops to sniff a bush. It's pretty gross because all of the dogs in the neighborhood pee in the same spot, and he's a little freak like that. (live: 5s)[ (stop:) [[Pull the dog away.->WalkSpot]] [[Look at the bush.->BushExamine]]]

You can't see your refelction in this one, and the blinds are down. The dog likes to see if there's a cat to look at here, but it's not here this time. He always stops, just in case that it is. (live: 3.5s)[ (stop:)He pulls away, we have to keep moving forward.] (live: 5s)[ (stop:) [[Cross the street.->BushBlock]]]

Crossing the street once again, you land the grass patch that the dog likes to do his business on. He eagerly begins sniffing and circling. (live: 3s)[ (stop:) It's a little cooler here in the shade, you're really feeling the heat and humidity today.] (live: 4.5s)[ (stop:) [[Pull out your phone.->Phone]] [[Watch the dog.->DogGrass]] [[Look towards the sky.->Sky]]]

Flies and bees buzz around the flowers, driven by their desire for survival and reproduction. The yellow abdomen of the bees blend with the pollen in the stigma of the purple flowers, and hover from stem to stem. (live: 4s)[ (stop:)Sometimes life can be difficult, progress is not linear. It feels terrible, actually. How can the struggle of the bee to collect pollen be so beautiful, but the same lens not apply to the self?] (live: 8s)[ (stop:)The dog pulls the leash. We have to move on.] (live: 9.5s)[ (stop:) [[Continue the walk.->WalkSpot]]]

You scroll and scroll, avoiding the email in your inbox. You've already seen it. You know what it looks like. You could read it again, just to make sure it said what you think it said, but it wouldn't change what you already know. Maybe you always knew. It's hopeless. (live: 4.5s)[ (stop:)The dog finished pooping.] (live: 6s)[ (stop:) [[Pick up his poop.->PooPickup]]]

The dog goes to the bathroom and then pridefully kicks his feet and sends grass flying everywhere. A job well done. (live: 2.5s)[ (stop:)He's adorable, and he needs you. In more ways than one, it's time to pick up his poop.] (live: 4s)[ (stop:) [[Pick up his poop.->PooPickup]]]

Streaks of clouds dot the light blue sky, each moving at their own pace, and to their own final destinations. You feel a sense of calm you haven't felt since earlier this afternoon. (live: 3.5s)[ (stop:)The dog finished pooping. ] (live: 5s)[ (stop:) [[Pick up his poop.->PooPickup]]]

He waits patiently as you grab a doggie bag and pick up his hard work. He pulls on the leash, we have to move on. (live: 3s)[ (stop:) [[Move on.->Final]]]

Returning to the apartment, the dog waits patiently for you to remove his harness. Once off, he darts into the living room to get a drink of water. (live: 3s)[ (stop:)The apartment is the same as you left it.] (live: 4.5s)[ (stop:)Everything and nothing has changed, and that's okay.] (live: 8s)[ (stop:)Thanks for playing.]