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The Accident
Will Traynor woke up in at his apartment in Central London and conducted his usual morning routine. While making his way to work, he was hit by oncoming traffic, and was paralyzed from the neck down. -
Two Years Later
Louisa Clark, a twenty-six year old women, was laid off of her job, where she had worked for the past six years. This was a major issue for her family, because money was already tight and Lou was the only major source of income. She set out to find a job, with little success. -
The Interview
Finally, after looking restlessly for a job, Lou finally came across a position that was needed for a caregiver for a quadriplegic. Lou went to the interview, only to be very surprised. The mother, Mrs. Traynor, was conducting the interview for her son. She told Lou that what her son needed was someone who could be with her son during the daytime and assist him with the activities that he cannot do himself. Knowing that her family desperately needed the money, Lou accepted the job. -
The First Day
On her first day of her new job, Lou met Will Traynor. He greeted her coldly and was stunned by her instantaneous style. He did not pay her any mind and sat staring out of the window, while Lou busied herself with tiding the annex, where Will stayed, separate from his family. -
Old Friends
Two weeks after starting the job, Lou and Will had settled into a routine. Lou would give Will his medication and then proceed to clean the annex. Will would stare outside of the window until it was time for him to eat. Then one day, the routine was broken, by unexpected visitors. Alicia, Will's old girlfriend, and Rupert, Will's old close friend, came to see him, after almost two years with no contact. They told Will that they were getting married, and gave him an invitation. Will's face fell. -
The Picture Frames
After Alicia and Rupert left, Will managed to maintain his composure. He wheeled himself into his room, and using a cane, he thrust all of the glass picture frames and pictures onto the floor, shattering them. Lou ran into the room, and attempted to pick up the mess. To Will's surprise and amusement, Lou broke her silence, and made a joke, saying how she hoped the wheels of his chair cannot be punctured by the glass. -
Doctor's Appointment
Lou and Nathan, Will's other caregiver, took Will to his doctor's appointment. This was the first time that Lou drove will anywhere in the adapted van and the first real place that they went together, outside of the annex. Once there, Lou walked into the examination room, where Will was waiting, and saw the ghastly scars that were on his wrists. Lou knew what those scars had meant, and that it was something that she knew she should keep to herself. -
Hair Cut
As spring came, Will's attitude became subtly kinder towards Lou. One day, while complaining about Lou's tea-making skills, she asked Will why he always had something to pick at her for. Will gave Lou an opportunity to do the same and she told Will that he could use a shave and a hair cut. Will was against it, but he gave in and let Lou shave his face and trim his hair. This came as a shock to Will's family and to his other caregiver, Nathan, because Will was uncaring about his appearance. -
Switzerland
The same afternoon that Will allowed Lou to cut his hair and shave his face, Will's sister, Georgia, came to visit. When she came into the annex, Lou could tell she was upset. Knowing her place, Lou left the room and let her and Will talk. As Georgia was leaving, Lou overheard Mrs. Traynor and Georgia talking about how Will could not go through with it, that it was murder. Lou listened and learned that within six months time, Will would go to a place in Switzerland and legally kill himself. -
The Calendar
Determined to change Will's mind, Lou created a calendar of different events and outings that she hoped would show Will that there was still a reason for him to live.. Lou presented this calendar to Will's parents and they said that whatever she felt would be necessary, they would fund it. From that day on, Lou made it her mission to make Will happy, or at least happier than when they first met. -
Horse Race
Trying to succeed in her mission, Lou and Nathan took Will on his first outing to a horse race. The day did not go as Lou had hoped, starting with Will's wheels getting stuck in the mud, the restaurant not allowing them to eat there without Premium passes, and then Will confessing that he hated horse races at the end of it all. Lou almost felt defeated but knew she could not give up and began to research other things that Will might enjoy. -
Lou's Birthday Dinner
Curious about her family and boyfriend, Will decided, after little convincing, to attend Lou's birthday dinner. He arrived at Lou's home and was the perfect gentleman. Lou's family were all greatly impressed by his humble mannerisms and how kind he was, despite his affluent family. Lou's boyfriend, Patrick, however, did not feel the same. He felt greatly threatened, and made it known. Determined to give Lou a good birthday, Will stole the show by giving Lou the beloved stripped leggings. -
The Maze
Near Will's home, there was a castle and a maze. After the tourists had left, Will and Lou would walk around the castle. Will told Lou that she should attempt to go through the maze. Lou took a deep breathe, and stepped into the maze. As she walked, panic began to overtake her and she called out for Will. He came to her as fast as he could and had her hold onto him as he lead them out of the maze. Once safe, Lou explained the bad experience she once had that had kept her out of the maze sense. -
The Wedding
Surprisingly, Will decided to go to Alicia and Rupert's wedding. Nathan helped dress Will as Lou got ready. The wedding was flawless, as expected, and the bride was beautiful. During the reception, Will acted civil to all of his fellow coworkers, and even the bride and groom. Once the alcohol kicked in between Lou and Will, they loosened up and even got on the dance floor together. They ignored the stares and were solely focused on each other. Too tipsy to drive back, they stayed at a hotel. -
The Breakup
After almost seven years of dating, Lou moved in with her boyfriend Patrick. Her home was no longer able to fit her whole family, especially when her sister was home with her son. But living with Patrick was not what Lou hoped it would be. She felt empty and awkward. Patrick, after weeks of distant behavior, made Lou a lovely dinner, complete with candles. As the meal ended, Patrick found the plans for a trip for Will. He was enraged and felt as if he had enough. Oddly, Lou felt indifferent. -
The Adventure
Not wanting Will to relapse with pneumonia, Lou set out to find a place that he would enjoy and that would be safe for him. With the help of other quadriplegics online, Lou planned a vacation to a tropical paradise that was specifically set up for people with disabilities. Each day, Lou, Will, and Nathan would relax by the water's edge and sun bathe in the temperate climate. The workers at the resort were trained to help and this helped Will to relax. Lou felt like he was finally at peace. -
Switzerland Part 2
Heartbroken that she was unable to change his mind about Switzerland, Lou sat in her room, unable to function. Days later, knowing that Will's last day was approaching, Mrs. Traynor called Lou. She begged for Lou to come to Switzerland, like Will had asked. She told Lou how it was the only thing that Will wanted now. Quickly, Lou came to Switzerland. She spent Will's last moments of life with him, knowing that now, he would finally be happy again. -
The Letter
After Switzerland, Lou knew she needed to leave her small town. When she reached the cafe in France that Will had always spoke of, she opened the letter as he had instructed. Inside were details of how an account was created for Lou to help her get into college and how she had made being the chair bearable. He spoke of how she left a "score on his heart" and that he was forever grateful for her. Tearful, Lou folded the letter and promised to live her life, just as Will had taught her to.
