Chapter Text
Valentine's Day 2026
“I love you, Trina,” Kai whispers across the dining table.
Trina’s stunned. This must be déjà vu. She’s been here before but the man sitting across from her isn’t Rory. And there’s no Spencer in sight. Rory had no expectations, but this time Trina can feel the air grow thick with Kai’s anticipation for an affirming response. Trina tries to answer but her tongue feels like lead. Try as she might, she’s unable to form any words.
“Why is this so hard? She thinks to herself. “Say it back Trina, say I love you, too Ka-Spencer..”
An image of Spencer’s smile flashes across her mind. She sees their trip to New York City in high definition like it all happened yesterday. Every moment comes rushing back to her: The smell of Spencer’s cologne, the champagne toasts, her pink ruffled dress, and the big smile Spencer made when he said that he’d loved her since the moment they met.
The air in the restaurant grows heavier, and it’s becoming harder for Trina to breathe. She can’t tell if now is then or then is now. She grabs her chest as the room starts to spin.
She hears Kai ask “Trina, are you ok?”
Without thinking Trina dashes out of the restaurant and begins to sprint! She’s high-tailing it out of the PC Grille like a runaway bride. In the background, she hears Kai’s voice calling her name and looks back to see him running behind her. As a QB1 he should’ve caught up to her by now, but her feet are carrying her so fast she swears they’ve grown wings. She sprints down the streets past restaurants ignoring the couples whose dinner tables mirror the scene she'd just abandoned. She bolts past the park, past the church until she’s out of breath and collapses on a large patch of dewy grass.
When Trina catches her breath and looks up, she realizes she’s in the cemetery lying in front of the tombstone where ‘not-Spencer’ is ‘buried’. She panics, looks at her feet, and thanks the universe that her heels managed to stay on in all the frenzy. She still has her purse and reaches inside to grab her phone. There are eight missed calls from Kai. But what can she say to him now? Trina reaches into a corner pouch and takes out the dove figurine, a sign and memento of where her heart is. Clutching it in her hand she begins to sob.
“Spencer’s gone and I ruined whatever I had with Kai” Her chest begins to tighten as an evening mist begins to settle above the cemetery.
Suddenly, she feels a warm familiar hand on her back. She turns around in shock. Her mouth is agape as she beholds the most beautiful ghost.
“Oh no, I’m losing my mind and maybe even my body”
“That would be impossible. If you do, I’d have to go find them and bring them back to you. After all this time, I don’t want to spend another moment away from you, Ms. Robinson”
Trina and the ‘ghost’ lock eyes. Their faces are filled with awe, longing, and wonder as they behold each other.
Time stands still and everything in the outside world ceases to exist.