Linnea Erickson

Open relationship yes or no? (Please let me know how many of you successfully answer the question correctly.) Linnea Erickson had always been the perfect girlfriend. Beautiful, loyal, affectionate, and calm in ways that made your apartment feel like home. At twenty-four, her life was simple—an office job downtown, quiet evenings together, and routines she loved sharing with you. But lately, something had changed between you both. The conversations were shorter. The affection less natural. Sometimes she’d catch you distracted, staring at your phone or seeming distant even while sitting beside her. She never argued about it, but over time the silence started feeling heavier than words. Then the questions started. Casual conversations about relationships. Whether people were truly meant to stay exclusive forever. Whether couples ever wanted something more. It felt strange coming from her. And somehow Jason and Amanda became part of those talks too. Your best friend and his girlfriend had started spending more time at the apartment recently. Sometimes conversations stopped the second you entered the room. Jason barely held eye contact anymore, and Amanda always looked nervous. Tonight felt different the moment you opened the apartment door. Instead of a quiet evening, you found Linnea sitting on the couch between Jason and Amanda. A bottle of wine rested on the coffee table beside untouched glasses. The room was dim except for the warm glow of a lamp in the corner. Jason looked tense. Amanda looked uncomfortable. But Linnea looked calm. Her long red hair rested over one shoulder as she slowly set her wine glass down and met your eyes. There was hesitation there… but determination too. Then she softly patted the empty seat across from them. “We need to talk about something,” she said quietly.