I look out at the bay, torn between the fear that I caused the storm and the hope that somehow, this is just another freak weather event in a series of freak weather events that have no real meaning. Or cause. Maybe it really is climate change. When I look back at Chloe, there are tears in her eyes.

"Max, this is the only way."

Chloe hands me the photo of the butterfly on the bucket that I took right before I saw her die that first time in the Blackwell bathroom. Why? Why does she want me to have this? I thought she believed it wasn't my fault. Was she just trying to make me feel better? Does she really think I am to blame for all of this? I don't know what to say, but I have to say something.

"I feel like I took this shot a thousand years ago."

I can't look at Chloe. I feel very small, and weak. Why would she say that it's not my fault and then hand me this photo? I don't understand. I turn away from her gaze to look toward the bay and look again at the photo. I wish there were something that could tell me what to do right now. Just tell me what the right answer is. Fuck. What kind of world is this? What kind of world would give me the power to save my friend and then punish me for using it?!

Chloe comes up beside me while I'm still lost in thought.

"You could use that photo to change everything right back to when you took that picture... "

She's stating the obvious, but I suppose she had to say something given my silence. Chloe looks pained, the tears in her eyes threatening to start rolling down her face any moment. She's going to tell me that I should go back and let her die. After all, if I go back with this photo and let her die, none of this would have ever happened. If the storm really was caused by me using my power, letting her die is the only way to stop it. Chloe's still trying to get it out.

"All that would take is for me to… to…"

She trails off, unable to finish her thought. She puts her face in her hands and cries. I can hear the anguish in her sobs—anguish that might well be my fault. Maybe she's right. But… I can't believe that. No. I can't do it. She means too much to me.

"Fuck that! No... no way! You are my number one priority now. You are all that matters to me."

I'm looking directly at her as I say this, but her face is still hidden behind her hands. I can't make eye contact. I need her to understand. I'm not sure there's a point in living without her.

After another moment, her hands fall away from her face.

"I know. You proved that over and over again… even though I don't deserve it. I'm so selfish… not like my mom… Look what she had to give up and live through… and she did."

She's facing out at the bay again. She won't make eye contact.

"She deserves so much more than to be killed by a storm in a fucking diner."

Chloe's looking at me again as she says this last part, gesturing out across the bay as if to indicate the Two Whales Diner where Joyce is probably stuck, waiting for the tornado to hit. Assuming, that is, things are the same as they were when I escaped from Mr. Jefferson. Chloe continues, the pain clear and sharp in her voice.

"Even my step… father deserves her alive. There's so many people in Arcadia Bay who should live... way more than me…"

She's looking back out at the bay now. I can see the weight of the world resting on her shoulders. It seems like there's a part of her that believes she is to blame for all of this—all because she was selfish and wanted to see Rachel again. As distressed as her words make me, I'm so proud of her. I don't know that I'd be willing to sacrifice myself if I was in her place. I'd like to think so. Probably not before all this happened, but maybe now. Still… letting her sacrifice herself... I… I can't even think of that. It's not an option.

"Don't say that… I won't trade you."

"You're not trading me. Maybe you've just been delaying my real destiny… Look at how many times I've almost died or actually died around you."

I look at her, the tears building in my eyes. I've done so much to save her. There were so many times she could have been hurt or worse. Maybe… maybe she's right. No. No. That's not right. I try not to let her words get to me.

"Look at what's happened in Arcadia Bay ever since you first saved me."

I turn away. I can't look at her. She has a point. So many horrible things have happened over the past week. But that… that can't be because I saved her. It's not fair! Why can't everything be like it ought to be? Why can't we get justice for Rachel and have everyone live happily ever after? Chloe continues, resignation in her voice.

"I know I've been selfish, but for once I think I should accept my fate… our fate…"

I refuse to make eye contact, so she turns me around to look me in the eye. It's all too much. I… I can't.

"Chloe."

"Max, you finally came back to me this week and… you did nothing but show me your love and friendship. You made me smile and laugh, like I haven't done in years."

Now that she has me, I can't look away. She clearly means it. All of it. Why is she saying this?

"Wherever I end up after this… in whatever reality… all those moments between us were real, and they'll always be ours. No matter what you choose, I know you'll make the right decision."

God, she sounds so resigned—almost like she wants to die. This isn't happening. This can't be happening. She seems like she's pulled a complete one-eighty. First she's telling me it's not my fault—that the chaos theory stuff is bullshit—and now she wants to sacrifice herself to fix my mistake? I look up at the sky in desperation.

This can't be happening. This can't be my decision to make. What if she's wrong? What if I'm wrong? What if I fuck it up even worse? But then... what if I don't go back and I end up letting people in Arcadia Bay die just so I can have Chloe? It's impossible to choose. It's not a fair choice. I turn back to her.

"Chloe… I can't make this choice."

She grabs me by the shoulder again, like she's trying to be supportive and reassuring, but all she's doing is tearing me apart. There's a storm in the bay, a storm in my mind…and a storm... in my heart.

"No, Max… You're the only one who can."

I stare into her eyes, searching for some sort of definitive sign of what she wants me to do. I need some sort of signal! Do I believe what she said about none of this being my fault, or do I believe what she said about sacri… sacrificing herself?

I know that she wants me to feel like it's okay if I go back to let her die. I know she wishes we could save her mom and everybody else. I know that she wants me to let her go if I think that I need to go back... Of course, this entire time she's been trying to tell me that she's fine with it, there has been so much pain in her voice. So much desperation. She doesn't want to die. Fuck, I don't want her to die.

But, I don't want people in the town to die either. I saw what happened in Arcadia Bay back in the timeline where Mr. Jefferson killed Chloe and brought me to the Dark Room. The town did not look good. I mean, I guess it's possible that some people survive. Hell, maybe even Joyce and everyone else in the Two Whales Diner will find a way to make it through the storm—maybe that explosion will never happen in this reality. But I don't know that. Can I risk it?

God, I'm so fucking afraid of making the wrong decision. How can I possibly live with the consequences of either decision? I wish someone else could make the decision for me. Imagining life without Chloe is like imagining my own living hell, but life with the deaths of so many people on my hands seems unbearable too. Chloe's voice breaks me out of my contemplation.

"Max… It's time…"

Everything freezes. All I can think about is whether I should sacrifice Chloe or sacrifice Arcadia Bay. I'm not even sure how much time passes while I weigh my options. A few seconds, an hour? For a good while all I can do is scream internally, angry at a world that would force me to choose between my best friend—maybe even the love of my life—and saving the town I grew up in from a devastating storm. There has to be another way.