%title Textual Grieving Mechanics: * three column table: sender, text, num days after start date * macros: mk for Michael K., jm for Jace Macallan, number by days to turn into actual dates later (day 1 = Nov 11 2015) * emojis: https://afeld.github.io/emoji-css/ ----- Act 1: * Two teens dating online - Jace (Jason) and Michael * One thinks they're trans * Thinks folks find out, commits suicide - discovered soon enough that lands in hospital for a week or so, other finds out by calling parents ## 2017-03-06 ``` Michael K.: 🆗🆒 jace macallan: lol whats that supposed to mean Michael K.: Come on. OK and Cool. Right? jace macallan: i get that jace macallan: not disputing the fact of ok and cool jace macallan: just saying you're a dork Michael K.: Dork, huh? I'll dispute that. jace macallan: i'll dispute you Michael K.: I'll dispute your face jace macallan: classy, mikey jace macallan: you're really showing your maturity Michael K.: One year ahead of you, haha 😂 jace macallan: trust me, the view's great back here Michael K.: Spicy 😉 jace macallan: you're not helping your case here Michael K.: Haha, fine. I'll admit that I'm a dork. jace macallan: 🙂 jace macallan: love you, dork Michael K.: Love you too 😘 Michael K.: So how was class? jace macallan: lame Michael K.: Lame how? Michael K.: I mean, you always say lame, but how? jace macallan: lol jace macallan: just lame jace macallan: teachers are assholes, students are assholes jace macallan: i hate it Michael K.: Yeah, me too Michael K.: Anyone being an asshole to you? jace macallan: feels like everyone is lol Michael K.: Seriously? jace macallan: hmm jace macallan: no, guess not jace macallan: just not a good place jace macallan: not good people jace macallan: kids are awful. can't wait until i'm not one Michael K.: Haha, you're not a kid, really. Michael K.: More grown up than me, at least. jace macallan: that's not hard, you know Michael K.: 😝 Michael K.: Seriously, though. Anyone gives you trouble, you tell them your boyfriend will kick their asses. jace macallan: lol jace macallan: i can't tell anyone that, and you know it Michael K.: Yeah, sorry. Michael K.: Still... Michael K.: I'd totally kick their asses. jace macallan: 🙂 jace macallan: you're sweet for a dork Michael K.: Thanks 😂 Michael K.: Besides, I might need you to return the favor some day. I know some assholes around here who need their asses kicked jace macallan: lol! and your girlfriend's the one to do it? Michael K.: Hell yeah. Michael K.: My girlfriend can beat me up! Michael K.: They'd be terrified of you. jace macallan: oh god please don't tell them about me jace macallan: please don't, mikey Michael K.: I didn't, I promise. Michael K.: Sorry, didn't mean to worry you. Michael K.: You okay? jace macallan: yeah jace macallan: you promise, though? jace macallan: pinky swear? Michael K.: Promise. Michael K.: Pinky swear. Michael K.: Didn't mean to upset you. jace macallan: it's 🆗🆒 jace macallan: did I do that right? Michael K.: Haha, not quite, but I'll accept it. jace macallan: still a dork Michael K.: Thanks 😝 Michael K.: No one at school knows, though. promise. Michael K.: Mom and dad know. Michael K.: * know that I'm dating, not who jace macallan: yeah, good Michael K.: I still want to brag about you though 🙂 jace macallan: I know 😝 jace macallan: just don't jace macallan: you can be out jace macallan: at least there jace macallan: i can't do that here jace macallan: or anywhere Michael K.: I know. Michael K.: I wish you could. Michael K.: Still think your parents would shit a brick? jace macallan: mom would be fine jace macallan: dad would just shit a whole building Michael K.: Haha 😂 Michael K.: I hope it's not a big one. jace macallan: it would be jace macallan: it would be the brick factory jace macallan: he got home, gotta go jace macallan: dinner, bbl Michael K.: Okay. Hopefully no bricks for dinner. ``` ## 2017-03-07 ``` -jm: hey -jm: hey jerk -mk: Jerk? Why? 😝 -jm: you didn't respond, that's why -mk: For fifteen minutes! -mk: Jeez 🙂 -jm: lol it's fine -mk: Suuuure 😂 -jm: just being goofy -mk: Oh, like that Disney dog character? -jm: no 😝 -jm: just had a good day -jm: so I'm feeling good ``` Act 2: * Remaining teen grieves by leaving messages like journal entries through IMs * Goes through many of the classical stages of grief - Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression * Talks to own parents, calls other's parents once or twice * Parents find log/conversation at one point, suggest therapy, therapist suggests continuing. Act 3: * Remaining teen learns to accept the loss * Starts dating again - guilt over replacing relationship, but finds a way to work with that, too * Ends with needing to let go of the dead, decides to delete the chat