When We Fall

(unless: (history:) contains "Falling") [<script> var audio = document.createElement('audio'); audio.src = 'Audio/bensound-love.mp3'; audio.loop = true; audio.volume = 0.1; audio.play(); </script>] <img src= "Images/1.png" alt="Icon of cat, heart, and person" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:50%;"> There are so many metaphors for love. Love is a blobby mess, and everything can be turned into a metaphor for love. I can love my dog, my sister, my friends, my partner, myself. Love is an ongoing series of puzzles; a culmination of choices made and risks taken. Love is contrasted with fear, but love and fear are often mingling. What is love? Can you tell me a story that will help me understand? [<img src= "Images/empty.png" alt="Empty Heart" height="20px" width="20px">]<one| [[Yes]] [<img src= "Images/empty.png" alt="Empty Heart" height="20px" width="20px">]<two| [[No->End]] (mouseover-replace: ?two)[<img src= "Images/broken.png" alt="Broken Heart" height="20px" width="30px">] (mouseover-replace: ?one)[<img src= "Images/full.png" alt="Full Heart" height="20px" width="25px">] (unless: (history:) contains "Falling") [(set: $badgecollection to (a: ""))]

<img src= "Images/fall.png" alt="Orbs Falling" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:40%; float:left;">How do you feel like Falling today? [[Asleep]] / [[Off a cliff]]

I get a [[sinking feeling->Out of Love]] in my stomach. I tighten my fists and try to force my eyes open to no avail, so I come to peace with the [[downward rush->In Love]]. I can’t stop myself from falling but I hope a fluffy cloud awaits me at the bottom. <img src= "Images/cloud.png" alt="Clouds" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:70%;">

<img src= "Images/fire.png" alt="Fire hovering above ocean" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:70%;"> I wonder a lot about the most painful way to die. It’s a morbid human curiosity that I hope is never satisfied for real. Is it death by burning? Drowning? Maybe I look back, count the times I said no when I should’ve said yes, when I [[let the one get away->In Love]], or I [[chose the one instead of me->Out of Love]], as I drift into eternal sleep.

<img src= "Images/stars.png" alt="Stars" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:70%;"> I recall my first love. The first time is often confusing. You’re 15. You think it’s forever and then start to discover the only forever here is the amount of time you’re waiting for your “soulmate” to finish their League of Legends game. I always wonder if love is something you can find or an intensive craft project? Can I love [[someone else->Puzzle 1]] before loving [[myself->Puzzle 2]]?

<img src= "Images/balloon.png" alt="Balloon floating away" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:70%;"> Sometimes it’s all at once but it can creep up on you: the feeling of emptiness that replaces affection. I see it happening but there’s nothing I can do about it. All the time we spent together. I wonder if I had [[wasted all these moments->Puzzle 3]] or whether there is [[something to be learned->Puzzle 4]].

I walk into a cafe and take a seat by the window as I wait for my date to arrive. I’m early as usual so I fidget with the keychain attached to my purse, hoping no one notices I haven’t ordered yet. I’ve had dozens of dates now but I still feel the urge to throw up everytime I meet someone new. Will they like me? I hope I don’t talk too much this time. It’s interesting how you can forget that you are sizing them up just as much as they are judging you. They arrive and I soon find myself filling in the long gaps in conversation; afraid that the silent alternative would make me look boring. Not once do I stop to think, why should I have to fill the silence? Before I leave, I clean up the table and notice a [question]<reveal| printed on the back of my napkin: |cloaked)[(colour: #000000)[A way to write to loved ones far away. Do not forget the stamp and ink that stays.]] [[Answer->Answer 1]] / [[Throw out the napkin->Puzzle 3]] |one)[[<img src= "Images/hint.png" alt="Hint" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:20%;">]<hint1| (click-replace: ?hint1)[Starts with L.]] {(live: 30s)[ (show: ?one) (stop:) ]} (click: ?reveal)[(show: ?cloaked)]

I’d really like to sell my art one day. I don’t know if that means I’ll write a book, make stickers, or even photograph other people’s dolls for them in different countries. I’m exploring my passions and interests as I try to decide what I want my career to look like in the future. Sometimes I get lonely. I see my friends getting into relationships and I wish I had someone to share my accomplishments with. I wish I had a travel buddy, a gaming partner, a cat co-parent. But I value my me-time. I check my email and see a [message]<reveal| in my junk folder: |cloaked)[(colour: #000000)[Try to sip if you like it burning hot, Made from leaves, can be sweet, and can be bought]] [[Answer->Answer 2]] / [[Delete the email->Puzzle 3]] |two)[[<img src= "Images/hint.png" alt="Hint" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:20%;">]<hint2| (click-replace: ?hint2)[Rhymes with "bee".]] {(live: 30s)[ (show: ?two) (stop:) ]} (click: ?reveal)[(show: ?cloaked)]

I don’t know what I want. I have my degree but everyday I’m stuck wondering why I picked my program. I swipe through person after person on dating apps and I’m jaded as every conversation starts to blend together. I am on the outside looking into my body and my mind. I look back and regret both the choices I made and the choices I didn’t make, and I’m paralyzed by a sense of helpness—afraid that nothing will get better. Any good thing must be corrupted by the anticipation that something else will go wrong. Past mistakes are precursors to future ones. As I lay my head down and close my eyes, I picture a well. I pull up the bucket, unable to see its journey at all before it surfaces. Inside it there is a [note]<reveal|: |cloaked)[(colour: #000000)[By any other name is just as sweet, Single, a dozen, or gifted with treats.]] [[Answer->Answer 3]] / [[Toss the bucket back into the well->End]] |three)[[<img src= "Images/hint.png" alt="Hint" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:20%;">]<hint3| (click-replace: ?hint3)[A type of flower.]] {(live: 30s)[ (show: ?three) (stop:) ]} (click: ?reveal)[(show: ?cloaked)]

I’ve always been filled with questions. What’s the deal with Freud? Did Shakespeare really spell his name a dozen different ways or did my favourite teacher lie? What is the meaning of life? Of death? Every question is an opportunity to grow—even if it’s only in terms of useless facts. Every relationship will let you know what you really want. I was playing Coup with my co-workers, annoyed by the nervousness that comes from playing deception games. I have learnt over various board game sessions that I do the best when I don’t lie. My friends know I hate lying and this persona I’ve created for myself has allowed me to get away with small deceptions. Sometimes you need to change up your strategy, and every failure only brings you closer to seeing the route to victory. Don’t make it obvious that you’re Merlin, just let your teammates fight. The gamemaster announces a [riddle]<reveal|: |cloaked)[(colour: #000000)[Wrap this around your neck when it is cold, Can be patterned, one-size for young and old.]] [[Answer->Answer 4]] / [[Wait for someone else to answer->End]] |four)[[<img src= "Images/hint.png" alt="Hint" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:20%;">]<hint4| (click-replace: ?hint4)[A winter accessory.]] {(live: 30s)[ (show: ?four) (stop:) ]} (click: ?reveal)[(show: ?cloaked)]

[<img src= "Images/trees.png" alt="Tress" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:50%;">]<Badge1|I was blinded by colourful, festive lights. The Christmas Market is always bustling and I’m not good with the cold. I decided to try meeting my date from the cafe again. I’d talked to them so much online that it feels like a waste to let it go. I think to myself that attraction can be built. We head into a building to sample some free coffee. They also set up a free postcard service so I decided to send one to my brother for fun. There is romance in the air and by that I mean there were only couples in the marketplace. Even with the seductive smell of hot chocolate, urging me to dream about snuggling in front of a fireplace, it still didn’t convince me to try to hold my date’s hand. I can come to like them. [[I’ve been searching for so long that I don’t mind settling.->End]] (click-replace: ?Badge1)[Earned Badge: "Red Herring" <img src= "Images/bulb.png" alt="LED bulb" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">(unless: $badgecollection contains "bulb")[(set: $badgecollection to $badgecollection + (a: "bulb"))]]

(set: $answer1 to (prompt: (either: "What do you think the object is?", "Can you guess what this is?"), "")) (set: $answerlower to (lowercase: $answer1)) (if: "letter" is in $answerlower)[I've learned a little more about love, [[continue the story->Route 5]]] (else-if: "kevin" is in $answerlower)[Stop fooling around silly duckies, [[Try Again->Puzzle 1]]] (else-if: "thomas" is in $answerlower)[Stop fooling around silly duckies, [[Try Again->Puzzle 1]]] (else-if: "quentin" is in $answerlower)[Stop fooling around silly duckies, [[Try Again->Puzzle 1]]] (else:)[Not quite, [[Try Again->Puzzle 1]]]

Are you satisfied with your story? [[Yes, see you around->Okay, Bye]] [[No, can I try again?->Falling]]

(set: $answer2 to (prompt: "What do you think the object is?", "")) (set: $answer2lower to (lowercase: $answer2)) (if: "tea" is in $answer2lower)[I've learned a little more about love, [[continue the story->Route 6]]] (else-if: "kevin" is in $answer2lower)[Don't break my code please, [[Try Again->Puzzle 2]]] (else-if: "quentin" is in $answer2lower)[Don't break my code please, [[Try Again->Puzzle 2]]] (else-if: "thomas" is in $answer2lower)[Don't break my code please, [[Try Again->Puzzle 2]]] (else:)[Not quite, [[Try Again->Puzzle 2]]]

[<img src= "Images/tea.png" alt="Bubble Tea" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:50%;">]<badge2|I had a bad breakup two years ago. I thought that this is the best I could get and I felt trapped. Relationships are hard work so if I had to fix my partner in the process of forever, then so be it. I was wrong. I did, however, get a lot of bubble tea points for drinks I didn’t have to pay for. I am much happier alone. It is a worse feeling to be lonely in a relationship than to be alone. I am whole on my own. Plus it makes living a lot cheaper. Table for one, and leftovers for later. Right now I’m looking forward to starting my career. I want to finish my PhD and travel. There is a confidence I have from being independent and I’m excited to think about what I’ll do next. [[I’m focused on me.->End]] (click-replace: ?Badge2)[Earned Badge: "Alone at Peace" <img src= "Images/plane.png" alt="Plane" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">(unless: $badgecollection contains "plane")[(set: $badgecollection to $badgecollection + (a: "plane"))]]

(set: $answer3 to (prompt: "What do you think the object is?", "")) (set: $answer3lower to (lowercase: $answer3)) (if: "rose" is in $answer3lower)[I've learned a little more about love, [[continue the story->Route 7]]] (else-if: "kevin" is in $answer3lower)[Just play the game :(,[[Try Again->Puzzle 3]]] (else-if: "quentin" is in $answer3lower)[Just play the game :(,[[Try Again->Puzzle 3]]] (else-if: "thomas" is in $answer3lower)[Just play the game :(,[[Try Again->Puzzle 3]]] (else:)[Not quite, [[Try Again->Puzzle 3]]]

[<img src= "Images/rose.png" alt="Rose" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:50%;">]<badge3|When I was younger I remember someone giving me a rose. The first time they got me a rose they thought I wouldn’t like it. They hid it away in their locker and I only accidentally found out. The truth is I don’t like flowers, I don’t like that they die, and I don’t like that they are given as gifts dead. In the end though, they mustered up the courage to try again. We held hands and they got their shoes soaked from dropping it into a puddle on our mini-date at the park. Nothing came of that except a fading memory. But still it is a reminder of innocence and growth—I pressed the flowers so I could keep them and I tell people I prefer potted plants as gifts nowadays. [[I might not be where I want to be right now, but I will take it a day at a time.->End]] (click-replace: ?Badge3)[Earned Badge: "Day-by-Day" <img src= "Images/leaf.png" alt="Leaf" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">(unless: $badgecollection contains "leaf")[(set: $badgecollection to $badgecollection + (a: "leaf"))]]

(set: $answer4 to (prompt: "What do you think the object is?", "")) (set: $answer4lower to (lowercase: $answer4)) (if: "scarf" is in $answer4lower)[I've learned a little more about love, [[continue the story->Route 8]]] (else-if: "kevin" is in $answer4lower)[Yawn, [[Try Again->Puzzle 4]]] (else-if: "thomas" is in $answer4lower)[Yawn, [[Try Again->Puzzle 4]]] (else-if: "quentin" is in $answer4lower)[ur pretty cool, [[Try Again->Puzzle 4]]] (else:)[Not quite, [[Try Again->Puzzle 4]]]

[<img src= "Images/scarf.png" alt="Scarf and hat" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:50%;">]<badge4|My relationship with my partner is not perfect, but we constantly choose each other. Love can be like a winter scarf—assuring that you’ll be okay as you brave the cold, the hardships of everyday life, and being there for you when you need them. Every obstacle is not immediately a sign to back-out and give in but a chance to learn more about the other. Some people are more compatible than others. But everyone argues. How do you react when things get rough? Sometimes I had to choose myself, but choosing myself doesn’t mean I’m not choosing love—and that love doesn’t disappear. Love is committing to the other person’s happiness even if it means we have to go our separate ways. [[I am learning the love that works for me and respecting the love that works for the people I care about.->End]] (click-replace: ?Badge4)[Earned Badge: "Happy in Love" <img src= "Images/sun.png" alt="Sun" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">(unless: $badgecollection contains "sun")[(set: $badgecollection to $badgecollection + (a: "sun"))]]

Okay, Bye. Feel free to leave if you are satisfied with your choices.Badges Collected: (if: $badgecollection's length < 2)[None] (if: $badgecollection contains "bulb")[<img src= "Images/bulb.png" alt="LED bulb" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">] (if: $badgecollection contains "plane")[<img src= "Images/plane.png" alt="Plane" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">] (if: $badgecollection contains "leaf")[<img src= "Images/leaf.png" alt="Leaf" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">] (if: $badgecollection contains "sun")[<img src= "Images/sun.png" alt="Sun" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:15%;">] (if: $badgecollection's length > 4)[You've explored all four stories.]\ (if: $badgecollection's length is 4)[You've explored 3/4 stories.]\ (if: $badgecollection's length is 3)[You've explored 2/4 stories.]\ (if: $badgecollection's length is 2)[You've explored 1/4 stories.]

[[<img src= "Images/start2.png" alt="Icons of triangle, heart, circle, and square" style="display:block; margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:100%;">->Falling]] (text-style: "shudder")[[[When we fall->Falling]]] / Jane Lu An explorative narrative about love and choices. Make choices and solve the riddle of what love means to you. Collect badges at the end of different paths to mark your experience of a story. Explore all the storylines if you'd like to wander through the ups and downs of different ideas about love or stop when you're satisfied with the meaning you've found. You are always allowed to stop searching. There is no right answer—only consequences.

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