#one because they're forever changed by coming out of that portal in a very tangible way

[erin-gilberts]

I am just very soft over the idea of Erin storming back into Abby's life 20 years later and Abby is suddenly looking at this woman who is so much older she has wrinkles on the backs of her hands and her body is a little softer and thicker than Abby remembers, because they went and aged while neither was looking and now they aren't these barely-fledged 22-year-old seniors in college any more, they're 42 and they've lived entire lives without each other -

- but it's not bad, it's just different, and it's still beautiful in its own way, how Erin's eyes have never changed even though it's an adjustment to recognize this is who that 22-year-old became, without her, and it's even exciting when it doesn't remind her of how much of each other's lives they missed, because it means Abby has the unique opportunity to discover her all over again, and to catalogue every spot and mark and laugh line and wrinkle and all the million little indicators of survival against the odds

idK I am just very soft about aging and the idea it's a beautiful force that deserves to be celebrated instead of feared and hidden away and they give me a very convenient outlet to be soft about this