Emily is Away Too (2017)
The "spiritual successor" to "Emily is Away", "Emily is Away Too" unfolds across five distinct chapters over the course of a single school year, each set a few months apart. These chapters not only chronicle the evolution of the player’s relationships with two key characters, Emily and Evelyn, but also reflect the changing social landscape of the mid-2000s through a nostalgic chat-based interface.
The "spiritual successor" to "Emily is Away", "Emily is Away Too" unfolds across five distinct chapters over the course of a single school year, each set a few months apart. These chapters not only chronicle the evolution of the player’s relationships with two key characters, Emily and Evelyn, but also reflect the changing social landscape of the mid-2000s through a nostalgic chat-based interface.
The story centers on the player’s individual relationships with Emily and Evelyn, two high school classmates who do not know each other. Each conversation with them unfolds in a chat client that mimics AIM (AOL Instant Messenger), allowing players to switch back and forth between chats, responding to each in real time. The player had previously met each girl under different circumstances before the events of the game begin, and now continues to communicate with them privately. As the player chats with each girl separately, they begin to learn about who Emily and Evelyn are—not only their interests, but also their values, opinions, and emotional struggles.
In the first two chapters, players become familiar with the personalities of both Emily and Evelyn. The game presents them as distinct individuals, with differing views on topics like music, relationships, and life plans after high school. Emily tends to be more introspective and thoughtful, while Evelyn leans toward being free-spirited and expressive. These differences create opportunities for meaningful dialogue that helps players form a bond with each of them.
However, it also introduces a subtle tension: the way the player responds to one may contradict what they’ve said to the other. Each girl asks the player questions about their tastes, future plans, and personal philosophies, setting the stage for a critical moment of truth later in the story. Beneath the surface of these conversations, both Emily and Evelyn hint at dissatisfaction in their current romantic relationships. They confide that they feel manipulated, unappreciated, or emotionally drained, and though they don’t go into detail right away, it’s clear both are struggling.
Chapter three marks a turning point. The emotional strain in both girls’ relationships comes to a head. Something hurtful has happened—an event severe enough that both Emily and Evelyn reach out to the player at the same time, seeking comfort and advice. This moment puts the player in a difficult position: they can only meaningfully support one of them. Whichever girl the player chooses to talk to will open up, share her pain, and eventually calm down thanks to the player’s empathy and guidance. The other, however, feeling abandoned in a moment of need, becomes upset and logs off abruptly, hurt by the player’s absence. It’s a choice that creates a sharp emotional divide, and its consequences ripple through the rest of the story.
By chapter four, the results of that fateful choice are fully realized. The girl the player helped in chapter three has taken their advice and ended the toxic relationship she was in. She’s grown closer to the player as a result, and depending on earlier decisions and the tone of their conversations, this connection may blossom into a romantic relationship. Whether romantic or platonic, the bond becomes stronger, more trusting. At the same time, the girl who was left behind reaches out for the first time since their falling out. She apologizes for her reaction and admits that her anger came from a place of vulnerability. She too has broken off her unhealthy relationship and is looking forward to the next chapter of her life as she prepares to leave high school behind. Her message is a peace offering—a willingness to reconnect and perhaps rebuild the friendship that was strained.
In the final chapter, chapter five, the world begins to shrink and shift again. For the first time, Emily and Evelyn are placed in the same class and, as a result, they finally meet and begin talking. Naturally, the conversation turns to the player. What they say about the player—and what follows—depends entirely on how the player conducted themselves in the earlier chapters, especially in chapters one and two. Specifically, whether or not the player gave consistent answers to the personal questions both girls asked will shape the outcome.
If the player gave inconsistent answers—telling one girl they liked punk music, for example, while claiming a preference for indie rock to the other—it comes back to haunt them. The girl the player did not help in chapter three confronts the other with these contradictions. To her, it appears the player was dishonest, tailoring their responses to win favor with each girl. The girl the player helped begins to see them in a new light—not as a trusted friend or partner, but as someone manipulative and deceptive, much like her ex. No matter what the player says in response—whether they try to defend their choices, explain themselves, or apologize—the damage is irreversible. The trust is broken. Feeling betrayed, the girl ends the relationship, cutting the player off completely.
On the other hand, if the player had remained truthful throughout—giving consistent answers, staying authentic even when it might not have been the most flattering—the outcome is dramatically different. The girl they didn’t help in chapter three praises them for being honest and genuine, noting that despite everything, they were consistent in who they were. This validation reassures the other girl, who expresses her gratitude to the player for always being real with her. Any doubts she had about the player’s sincerity disappear. With the foundation of trust secure, the player can choose how to move forward: they can deepen their relationship into something romantic, continue a relationship that already began in chapter four, or remain close friends as they prepare to leave for college.
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