History is All You Left Me

Content Warning: This section of the study guide mentions death, suicide, and abortion.

“Today” “Monday, November 20th, 2016”

Seventeen-year-old Griffin Jennings addresses his deceased ex-boyfriend, Theo McIntire. Today is Theo’s funeral. Griffin considers that Theo could be alive in alternate universes, but he’s upset with the Theo of this universe for breaking his promise not to die.

Griffin recalls his fondness for Theo. Griffin wishes Theo could reminisce with him, and he apologizes for reliving everything because it’s all he has of Theo. On the day Griffin broke up with Theo to free him up before moving across the country, Theo almost got hit by a car. Right before Theo moved, Griffin made Theo promise to take care of himself and not die. Griffin explains that of all the promises they made, this was the one that Theo wasn’t allowed to break.

Griffin is apprehensive because Theo’s boyfriend will be at the funeral. Griffin doesn’t want to think about that. Griffin believes that Theo is out there, watching his every move and listening to his monologue. He worries Theo will learn shameful secrets this way. Griffin wants to recount their history.