Lost.
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Lost, sitting at the side of a weary river that trickles slowly past you.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Feet dangling into its cool depths, the breeze gently tugging at your hair.(stop:)]]
(live: 10s)[(transition: "dissolve")[An ornamental bridge across it stands on its last legs to your left.](stop:) ]
(live: 12s)[(transition: "dissolve")[ [[Look down at the river|rising water]]
(stop:)]]<img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53d8a1cce4b080024f337134/5a5ca731652dea17cc44f1e8/5a5ca746e4966b7d9b08e9e3/1516021583143/firefly.gif">(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[A firefly lands on the nameless white flower you hold in your hand,
further illuminating its nighttime beauty.] (stop:)]
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[It flutters about, feeding on what little nectar it can find.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[ [[Quietly observe it|flutters]] (stop:)]]
{(click-replace:"nameless white flower")[lily]}How you softly envy it,
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[and the thriving lust for life in its delicate, effervescent wings.](stop:)]
(live:6s)[(goto: "enough")]
(set: $headerimg to "dark")(live:0.2s)[You crush the frolicking creature.]
(live: 1s)[The water tries to scorch your skin.]
(live: 1.5s)[Your vision shatters and
you are consumed in light.]
(live: 2.5s)[NOT YET NOT YET]
(live: 2.8s)[(goto: "back to light")]
(set: $headerimg to "light")Its body tumbles from your hand, with the flower.
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The river claims it for its own, its light snuffed out](stop:)] (live: 3.25s)[and] (live: 3.5s)[yours] (live: 3.75s)[rekindled.]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Its corpse sweeps away to the [[sea.]]](stop:)](stop:)You often romanticised the idea of living by the sea, as a child.
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You were promised a trip there by your father.] (stop:)]
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The scent of nostalgia is strong in the air for you this evening,
sitting here by the river, as you consider that long-ago promise.](stop:)]
(live: 9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[[[Cast your mind back|dreamed]](stop:)]]<img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53d8a1cce4b080024f337134/5a5ca731652dea17cc44f1e8/5a5ca74624a694da4ac2dece/1516021585005/sunrise.gif" width="360px" height="200px">You took a long walk along the pier to watch the sun rise,
fingers clasped in your father's rough hand.
(live:3s)[An ungrateful child, you'd ruined the moment and angered him.]
(live:6s)[The rest is a blur, of rock-salt reveries and
the spray of the waves hitting your face.]
(live:9s)[(goto: "hitting")]
(set: $headerimg to "dark")(live:0.2s)[HITTING YOUR FACE.]
(live: 1.25s)[DON'T MAKE ME REMEMBER]
(live: 1.5s)[(goto: "reality")]
(set: $headerimg to "light")The smell in the air was of melted candyfloss that day.
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[And now it is as such again. You roll the taste in the air around on your tongue.](stop:)]
(live: 4s)[[[Sickly|sickly]],] (live: 4.25s)[sweet,] (live:4.5s)[dripping.]
(live: 5s)[[[I don't want to think about that|let go]] ]
(set: $headerimg to "dark")(live: 0.2s)[It was stuck in your hair,
tangled around your skinny ankles. ]
(live: 2s)[You were trapped in its awful sweetness.
Nowhere you could escape.]
(live: 3s)[PLEASE.] (live: 3.25s)[LET.] (live: 3.5s)[ME.] (live: 3.75s)[GO.]
(live: 4s)[(goto: "let go")]
(set: $headerimg to "light")You close the memory away for tonight.
(live:3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[It doesn't belong here](stop:)]
(live:3.75s)[(goto: "neither do you")](set: $headerimg to "dark")(live:0.2s)[AND NEITHER DO YOU.]
(live: 0.75s)[(goto: "I do")]
(set: $headerimg to "light")//No,// (live: 1s)[//I do.//] (live: 2s)[//For now.//]
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[This is **my** tranquil dark to return to.](stop:)]
(live: 5s)[(transition: "dissolve")[**My** wilted blossoms in bloom.](stop:)]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[**My** lonely river to [[mourn.]]](stop:)]And mourn you will. For you are lost.{(click-replace: "lost.")[lost to all that knew you.]}
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Lifting your soaked skirts, you pick yourself up to wander over your bridge of past dreams.](stop:)]{(click: "dreams")[
A familiar bridge of many brilliant but faded colours.]}
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Clip-clop, clip-clop. Each step across its opulent tiles an infinite [[echo.]] (stop:)]]You have to squint to scrutinise the visage because it is dark here, in this place of yours.
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Dark, cool, damp like soil.](stop:)]
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[And every tile a waning glimmer of a ray of sunshine that [[once was.]] (stop:)]]You remember dancing across a mosaic floor like this in your prime.
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[The world was yours, and you were blissfully, naively in love with the world.](stop:)]
(live: 4s)[(transition:"dissolve")[You were a delightful vision in mauve satin and a small crown of glorious mother of pearl.](stop:)]
(live:6s)[ (link:"Smiles-abound,")[(set: $headerimg to "light")(goto: "Smiles-abound,")] ](live: 6.5s)[ (link:"those scuffed shoes,")[(set: $headerimg to "light")(goto: "those scuffed shoes,") ]](live: 7s)[ (link:"the way you fell.")[(set: $headerimg to "dark")(goto: "betrayal.") ]]
(click-append: "satin")[ - with a golden lace trim - ]<img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53d8a1cce4b080024f337134/5a5ca731652dea17cc44f1e8/5a5ca745ec212d764f0835dc/1516021575309/chandelier.gif" width="360px" height="192px" >So many broken ceramics beneath
the mocking glaze of the place you landed.
(live:2s)[SPRAINED ANKLE.]
(live:3s)[SPURNED PRIDE.]
(click: "PRIDE")[Another disappointment in your father's eyes.]
(live:6s)[ [[But someone helped you up|her]] ]
(set: $headerimg to "light")A final betrayal that stretched on for decades.
(live:3s)[Who are you, to know all [[this?|Who are you?]] ]
(set: $headerimg to "dark")I am the fading anger that once held you.
(live:1s)[The dimming light of your worst self.]
(live:3s)[As you slip further out of my reach, my influence pales...]
(live:5s)[I cannot taint you [[much longer.]] ]
(set: $headerimg to "light")I don't think that I am [[ready]] for this.
(set: $headerimg to "dark")Whoever could be?
(live: 1s)[The light is not so painful now,] (live: 2s)[[[see?|not]] ]
(set: $headerimg to "light")No, it is not. (live: 1s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You're quite right.](stop:)]
(live:3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[I don't want to tread this bridge forever,
and I'm](stop:)] (live:3.5s)[ so](live:4s)[ so](live:4.5s)[ tired, ](live:5s)[ worn so very thin.]
(live:6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[I'll only further crush the tiles beneath my swollen ankles.
I haven't walked for years.](stop:)]
(live:9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[ [[It was over all too soon.|too soon.]] ](stop:)]
(live:9s)[(transition: "dissolve")[ [[I think it's nearly time.|too soon.]] ](stop:)]
(set: $headerimg to "dark")You had a good run.
(live: 2s)[And too soon is never soon enough.]
(live: 4s)[All that's left for those who knew you
are your footprints on a [[broken bridge.]] ]
(set: $headerimg to "light")The bridge crumbles beneath your faltering weight and
you collapse into the stream.
(live: 2s)[But you don't mind.]
(live: 4s)[Not now.]
(live: 6s)[ [[I am ready.]] ]
(set: $headerimg to "dark")Yes, we are ready.
(live: 2s)[It is time.]
(live:5s)[(goto: "dead")]
(set: $headerimg to "none")The river rushes forwards with a stronger force now.
(live: 3s)[You find that as the first wave hits you,
it transforms your limbs into vessels of light.]
(live:6s)[It doesn't perturb you. You knew this was to happen,
and you've stopped fighting.]
(live: 10s)[Bursting into hundreds of inverted fireflies,
your limbs leave you and fly away.]
(live: 12s)[ [[Thank you for helping me remember|torso]] ]The next surging wave of freedom hits you.
(live: 2s)[You will miss your lonely garden, but nothing will matter soon.]
(live: 7s)[The river takes your body next, save for your still, unbeating heart.]
(live: 12s)[Time slows down as the lungs you'd forgotten to breathe with melt away.]
(live: 14s)[Like candyfloss.]
(live: 16s)[ [[Even the saddest memories you wear with a smile, now|voice]] ](colour: #808080)[Satisfied with the voices that call from beyond the grave...]
(colour: gray)[(live: 2s)[The final waves crash at your shore and ]]
(colour: #C0C0C0)[(live: 4s)[your barren mind]] (stop:)
(colour: #DCDCDC)[(live: 6s)[deserts you]](stop:)
(enchant: "Credits", (colour: gray))[(live: 10s)[ [[Credits]] ](stop:)]
(stop:){(if: $headerimg is "light")[<img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53d8a1cce4b080024f337134/5a5ca731652dea17cc44f1e8/5a5ca74b24a694da4ac2df2f/1516021580411/title.png">]
(else-if: $headerimg is "dark")[]
(else:)[]}[[<img src = "https://static1.squarespace.com/static/53d8a1cce4b080024f337134/5a5ca731652dea17cc44f1e8/5a5ca745e4966b7d9b08e9c1/1516021576210/bridge_to_cross.jpg" width = "600px" height = "600px">->Start]]
(set: $headerimg to "light")The water slowly climbs your legs, a damp and creeping comfort.
(live: 3s)[(transition: "dissolve")[It soaks through your skirts, darkening the beautiful patterns that adorn your person[]<reveal|.(stop:)] ]
(live: 7s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Trailing in the water beside the bridge are the drooping branches of willow trees,
lit up by the childhood magic of [[fireflies.]] ](stop:)
]
{(click: "patterns")[ (replace: ?reveal)[ - each embroidered panel portraying a chapter of an unfinished story] ]}Intro - the garden of dying hallucinations created by her mind
Characters: her two selves - a nostalgic side and a side that's trying to drag her down with bad memories.
Middle - memories of her childhood, of the sea and her father
Middle - dancing as a debutante and failing her debut
Middle - an happy marriage lost at sea
Mourning - Being dragged down, poor health
End - letting go, finding peace with those memories, dyingAnd your fall from grace didn't matter to //her.//
(live: 2s)[(transition:"dissolve")[She hurried you away from the waltz and straightened out your dress,
adjusted your crown, dried your shame.](stop:)]
(live:4s)[(transition:"dissolve")[Dignity restored, you could face the rest of the evening, and it was wonderful.](stop:)]
(live:7s)[(transition:"dissolve")[A failed debutante, your eyes were only for her
but your fate was destined for [[another]].
](stop:)]The memory melting away, you lament that nameless woman,
the firefly and that loveless, doomed marriage.
(live:2s)[(transition:"dissolve")[A serviceman, he lasted but 12 years before succumbing to a
fatal combination of polio and gin.](stop:)]
(live:5s)[(transition:"dissolve")[The booze flowed as freely as the river rushing beneath you, then.](stop:)]
(live:7s)[(transition:"dissolve")[ [[Ruminate.]] ](stop:)]
{(click-replace:"that nameless woman")[(Gerlinde?)]}The polio nearly took you, too.
(live:2s)[And where you once danced over sunbeams,
decay sprung up.]
(live:4s)[You lost your body but your mind carried on.]
(live:6s)[(goto: "that one.")]
(set: $headerimg to "light")His was a secluded decline, but he was never unkind to you.
(live:3s)[(transition:"dissolve")[You wonder what could have been, had you lived in a later era.(stop:)]]
(live:6s)[(transition:"dissolve")[But of course, [[you nearly didn't]] (stop:)]]
(set: $headerimg to "dark")<h3>Thanks for playing!</h3>
{<a href='https://www.freepik.com/free-vector/blooming-cherry-tree-branch-background_769642.htm'>Blossom image - Designed by Freepik</a>}
{<a href='https://www.canstockphoto.co.uk/stone-bridge-29534139.html'>Bridge by Can Stock Photo</a>}
{<a href='https://media.giphy.com/media/G4FJAG3cCo9Jm/giphy.gif'>Firefly found on Giphy</a>}
{<a href='https://media.giphy.com/media/Zjb1abUKrAyFW/giphy.gif'>Sun rise found on Giphy</a>}
{<a href='https://media.giphy.com/media/35TdL4eo7d45O/giphy.gif'>Chandelier found on Giphy</a>}
[[Play again?|Splash]]
(set: $headerimg to "none")A voice seems to call out to you - a closing pinprick of light in your swimming vision.
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[You think it's...
[[Your father]]
[[Gerlinde]]
[[Your husband]]
](stop:)]I can only make peace with you now, daughter.
(live:3s)[(transition:"dissolve")[You were never the disappointment you thought you were to me.](stop:)]
(live:6s)[(transition:"dissolve")[I wanted only to dance with you one last time.](stop:)]
(live:9s)[(transition:"dissolve")[Please forgive me and know that I tried my hardest for you.]
[[Another, female voice?|Gerlinde]]
[[Another, male voice?|Your husband]]
[[Let go|mind]]
(stop:)]My sweet, frightened little lamb.
(live:3s)[(transition:"dissolve")[I found you in the hospice, right near the end. It was too late.](stop:)]
(live:6s)[(transition:"dissolve")[You were delirious and couldn't recognise my voice as I admitted our painful truth.](stop:)]
(live:9s)[(transition:"dissolve")[I've failed to misplace you from my mind since that day,
and I'll never succeed.]
[[An older male voice?|Your father]]
[[A younger, male voice?|Your husband]]
[[Let go|mind]]
(stop:)]In another world we could have shared this garden.
(live:3s)[(transition:"dissolve")[We could have crossed over the bridge together,
we could have carved out a happier life.](stop:)]
(live:6s)[(transition:"dissolve")[I was too trapped in my own, private world of terror.](stop:)]
(live:9s)[(transition:"dissolve")[The war changed me, made all these things impossible.]
[[An older male voice?|Your father]]
[[Another, female voice?|Gerlinde]]
[[Let go|mind]]
(stop:)]You were giddy for the love of your own beauty and grace.
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[This was your downfall on that day.](stop:)]
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[Smiling at the overt sigh on the lips of a Royal Courtier, you misstepped and (link:"fell.")[(set: $headerimg to "dark")(goto: "betrayal.") ] ](stop:)]You were on better terms with your father by your early 20s.
(live: 2s)[(transition: "dissolve")[But not such good terms that he would finance new shoes!](stop:)]
(live: 4s)[(transition: "dissolve")[And it was the old, worn soles that betrayed you. ](stop:)]
(live: 6s)[(transition: "dissolve")[With a scream, you (link:"fell.")[(set: $headerimg to "dark")(goto: "betrayal.") ] ](stop:)]