So as I explained earlier, role-playing with complete immersion and a brilliant story can take you through many emotions. The highs, the lows, the laughter, and sometimes, the gut-wrenching heartbreak that leaves you devastated behind the screen. This was one of those moments.
Sam’s backstory had always been a bit dark, a bit mysterious, but it was all coming to a head. He had been possessed by a demon long before he met Ana, and now, he was losing control of it. The kind-hearted, wise man she had fallen in love with was slipping away, and the demon was taking over. This was the end of their story, and I knew it. But knowing didn’t make it any easier.
We were at his house in Ashenvale when the RP began.
The once peaceful forest around us felt oppressive. The leaves rustled with an eerie wind, and the shadows seemed to lengthen unnaturally as Sam sat across from Ana, his eyes distant, cold. I could feel the tension rising with each keystroke, and I knew this wasn’t going to end well.
Ana’s voice trembled as she spoke,
“Sam, please. Don’t let it take you. I know you’re still in there.” Her silver eyes searched his face for a sign, for something—anything—that told her the man she loved was still in control.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
But he wasn’t.
Sam’s voice came back, harsh and unfeeling.
“You are a fool, Ana. Sam is gone. There is nothing left for you to hold onto.”
Ana shook her head, stepping closer, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“I don’t believe that. You’re stronger than this. We’re stronger than this. I love you, Sam. Please…” Her voice cracked, desperation in every word.
The demon laughed cruelly, a sound that sent chills down my spine.
“Love? You think that can save him? Pathetic. You will lose him, just as you lose everything else. He is mine now.”
Ana collapsed to her knees, clutching his hand, even as he stood there, cold and unmoving.
“No, Sam, please. Fight it. Fight for us!” Her heart was breaking, and so was mine. Behind the screen, I was crying, too, as I typed. This wasn’t just a game; this was real.
Sam’s expression didn’t change as he looked down at her, his eyes devoid of any warmth.
“Hold onto his body, if you feel it will bring you comfort.”
That line was the final blow.
Ana clung to him, sobbing, but Sam—the real Sam—was gone. The demon had won, and the man she loved was lost forever.
I couldn’t take it anymore. My hands were shaking, tears clouding my vision. I turned off my computer, crawled into bed, and cried myself to sleep. I cried for Ana and Sam, for the characters we had built, for the love they shared, and for the loss that felt all too real.
This is why role-playing can break your heart. Because when the story is that good, that immersive, it stops being just a game. It becomes a part of you.
And losing it feels like losing a piece of yourself.