Téa had been released later that day, and the gang had stuck around to keep her company. They'd ordered pizza and decided to watch a comedy special on TV.

It was nice… being with the boys again. It was lively with everyone and it made her smile and giddy all the same. But at the same time, all of a sudden, she felt so out of place. She'd always sat cuddled against Atem and now it just felt so bare.

Everything felt so fragile at the moment. Téa felt reality could rip at her again and tear her away from everything. She felt so confused. Now that the boys had left, these thought began to plague her mind.

She took a deep breath and tried to distract herself. It wasn't good to keep thinking these thoughts non-stop. Téa grabbed the bag her mother had left for her on her table. It was something she could do to occupy herself. She unzipped it slowly and peered inside. It was the clothes she had worn when she was in the accident apparently. She sighed, pulling them out. First came her skirt. There was a little blood on it, she'd have to scrub it before she put it in the wash. Or maybe she'd just trash it, she thought.

She sighed. Looking at the blood reminded her the car accident had been real. Téa she wasn't even sure what was real anymore. She'd thought Atem was alive, and that her friends being dead was real.

She thought her relationship with Atem had been real, and perhaps that's what broke her the most. That her relationship probably was not even real. Everything they shared; it was nothing.

Tears pooled at the bottom of her eyes and she blinked, the tears now streaming down her face. She cursed her mind for bringing these thoughts again. She grabbed the bag and flipped it upside down angrily, releasing a sob as she threw the bag to the ground. She felt her heart was stolen from her. She wanted Atem. But then she heard a slight tap-tap hitting her desk.

Téa looked down and gasped, grasping for the item that fell out of the bag. Gingerly, she picked it up, her nimble fingers bringing it close to her face to inspect, as her heart beat rapidly. Her fingers began shaking.

She broke a sob. A golden ring encrusted with crimson baguettes around the diamond.

It was the ring Atem had given her.

It had been real.

She wore the ring on her finger to remind her self that it had been real. Their love had been real. It was all real.

Téa had spent too much time in that world, trying to convince herself that this work was a fabrication. To be able to accept both was reassuring, yet completely nerve-wracking.

She didn't even know what she entirely believed. Was it a parallel universe? Some sort of come-to-life mirage?

Téa remembered the pain and sorrow. But she also remembered the fluttery feeling she felt with Atem. She remembered the warmth of his arms.

So, she kept the ring on.

Of course, people would notice it on her ring finger. Of course, Yugi would be the first to inquire.

"It sounds crazy." She began, eyeing Yugi timidly.

Yugi gave a lazy grin. "You're talking to the guy who had spirit sharing his body. I think I can believe crazy." He smiled at her reassuringly, seated beside her on the couch.

Téa nodded, pressing her lips together. "I woke up." She took a deep breath, "and he was there."

She said the word "he" so breathlessly, that Yugi had no doubt who he was. But Téa clarified anyways.

"Atem." She looked at Yugi, whose eyes were unreadable as if they were just soaking up the information. "I saw him again… but everything was different. It wasn't this world, and…" She clenched her eyes shut.

"Téa?" She opened her eyes, as Yugi comfortingly put a hand on hers.

"You were dead…." She whispered, her eyes wide as if remembering, and Yugi widened his eyes in shock. "And so were Joey, Tristan, and Bakura." She sniffed, as tears started falling again. "You and Atem never got to duel. Our plane crashed on the way to Cairo." Yugi just blinked. "Atem and I were the only survivors." Téa let out a deep breath, tears still streaming from her eyes. "Say something."

Yugi opened his mouth to say something, but words didn't come out. What could he say? "I'm sorry you had to go through that." He gently rubbed his thumb across Téa's hand he was holding.

Téa squinted, her eyebrows furrowing, and then she laughed. "We fell in love. Atem, and I." Yugi sucked in a breath. "I love him so much…" She went on, "and it feels unreal to be with him, and then be back here. He's the one who gave me this ring." She lifted her hand up, letting the ring shine against the light. "It was like a promise ring of sorts…"

"Wow…" was the only thing Yugi could say. What does one say in a situation like this?

Téa looked at him. "I don't even know how or what, or…" she rambled. "I asked Ishizu, and she knows nothing. I'm not even sure she believes me." She puffed, with anger in her tone. She turned to Yugi.

"I believe you." Yugi reassured.

Téa smiled at him. "Thank you, Yugi." In that moment, Téa felt a surge of love for him. It made her feel conflicted all over again. To get over Atem, to get over Yugi, and now to be in love with both all over again. She sighed and looked away. It was so painful.

"Téa…"

She looked back at Yugi. "Hmmm?"

"Uhh… nothing." He smiled nervously. Téa started into his eyes but didn't press him further.

"Thanks for believing me Yugi." She curled her arms around him into a hug.

"Of course." He whispered into her hair.

A month has passed and Téa still couldn't shake off the uneasiness that she felt. It felt so surreal to be back. She tried to get in to the routine of things, but she wasn't the Téa she has been a month ago before she went into the coma.

That Téa hadn't known the deep sorrow of losing all her friends.
That Téa didn't know the sorrow of mourning the hidden death of a friend.
That Téa had never been in a real relationship.
That Téa had never declared dancing wasn't for her.
That Téa never gave up on moving to New York for college.
That Téa had never been in a long-term relationship with their dead Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh friend.

That Téa was still a virgin for crying out loud.

'Am I still a virgin now? Even though I'm still a virgin in this timeline?' Téa thought. 'Gah!' What did it matter anyways?

The only thing that mattered was that she was a different Téa. Now that the two versions of herself merged, she wasn't even sure what part of her was stronger, or what she even wanted anymore.

These feelings were confusing her and making her oh so hollow, yet so uncontained.

She wanted to give up dancing and pursue a different major, yet at the same time she wanted to pursue dancing all over again and go to New York?

She was in love with Atem, yet she was falling in love with Yugi all over again? Like what the heck?

There were so many things now she was confused about.

Sometimes it was too much, and she found herself crying all over again, not completely sure why she was crying.

Téa decided she would see a therapist again in this timelines or universe, or whatever it was. Of course, she wouldn't tell the entire truth, but she'd make it work.

It was frustrating to have come far, only for her progress to be snatched away from her and for her to start is all over.

But that is life. There are hurdles that continually create havoc on us, and it's up to us to stand strong against them. Sometimes we're strong enough to withstand them; sometimes they leave jarring cuts on ourselves and it is up to us to stand back up and tend to the wounds to make ourselves well again.

So Téa carried on.

Poor Téa. That girl has really been through a lot recently. She feels like she has a double identity almost! What are your thoughts on the ring she found and on this sort of different reality? What are your thoughts on how she's dealing with everything? Also any predictions for the next chapter?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

~Startistica