13 Reasons Why

Cassette 1: Side A

Hello. This is Emma Swan. Live and in stereo.

Killian almost stops breathing. This is the voice of his Swan. He never thought, that he would be able to hear her voice again, so he's almost crying out of happiness until he realizes, that his Swan is still gone and never coming back.

I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why.

⏸️

Killian couldn't believe this. It broke his heart. He thought, that he knew Emma and that he loved her right, but obviously he was wrong. He failed her. He...He killed her, which is something he can't live with. He killed the woman he still loves without realizing it. And even though he now knows, that he's one of the reasons that she's dead, he can't seem to realize what he did that lead to her death.

Also it confuses him, that this sounds like Emma committed suicide while actually she was killed by the black fairy.

▶️

I'm not saying which tape brings you into the story. But fear not, if you received this lovely little box, your name will pop up...I promise.

The rules are pretty simple. There are only two. Rule number one: You listen. Number two: you pass it on. Unless of course the person on the tape after yours is dead. Then you skip that person and get it to the next.

⏸

That's probably how the box ended up back here. Killian obviously isn't the first person to listen to this. Emma must've given this to someone the day she died, which was 2 weeks ago. Killian will never be able to forget that day. It haunts him since he lost the person he loves the most.

He still sees her every night in his dreams. Or more precisely nightmares.

▶️

Number 13...you get to keep those tapes. You can do with them whatever you want. Destroy them. Keep them. It's up to you.

In case anyone is tempted to break the rules, understand that these tapes are protected by magic, so if you break a rule...you'll pay. I promise you that.

Do not take me for granted...again.

⏸

Killian swallows hard again. It breaks him to hear that he failed her. He never meant to take her for granted. She was his whole world. She was the reason for him to stay alive. The light in his inner darkness. He won't become the man he was though. Then he'd fell like he failed her even more.

▶️

I know this seems kind of weird coming from me...the tapes I mean. But I guess I just didn't wanna be forgotten and reliving my life kept me sane during the last hours of it.

So...let's start. Are you ready, mom and dad? Congratulations. You're first on the list.

You were the first people, that made me doubt myself as a kid. You failed me by abandoning me. I grew up on my own without love in my life because you guys decided to be heroes and wanted to save everyone.

But did you ever think about the consequences of that?

You might have helped a lot of people, but in the process of that you hurt me. I've been alone my whole life because of you. You let that happen and it doesn't even seem to bother you.