Another End

Sal loses Zoe in a fatal car crash, and the tragedy pushes him into a deep depression. He blames himself for the accident and withdraws from life as his sister Ebe watches with growing concern. The grief becomes the defining wound that drives the decisions that follow.

Ebe works at Aeternum, a company that offers the Another End service. The memories and consciousness of the deceased are fed into a host, allowing the bereaved to say goodbye in a new form. The promise of closure begins to take shape in Sal's world.

Sal attempts suicide by pills and alcohol, hoping to end his pain. Ebe finds him in time and intervenes, stopping the act and redirecting his path toward the possibility of saying goodbye. The crisis marks a turning point toward the resuscitation option.

Ebe secures Zoe's mother's consent to participate in the resuscitation program, convincing her that this could help the family. The mother's agreement unlocks the experimental procedure as a potential path to healing. This sets the stage for Sal to try the process.

After a therapist and a colleague explain the process, Sal agrees to try the program, though he remains skeptical about forming a connection with Zoe in another body. The decision shows his longing for closure despite doubts. Preparations begin for the first session.

During a session, Sal realizes the person inside the host is Ava, not Zoe, and he confronts her in a heated argument. He recognizes Zoe in Ava's face and struggles with the idea of loving someone who does not resemble Zoe. The moment tests his commitment to the experiment.

Sal falls in love with Zoe again through Ava's body and feels happiness he thought was lost. He clings to the hope of a renewed bond and resists letting go when the program's end approaches. The emotional stakes deepen as their connection grows in tension with the nature of the host.

Sal persuades Ebe to extend the time with Zoe Ava, risking her job at Aeternum by pushing past the recommended number of sessions. He wants more memories and closer contact, fearing another goodbye. The balance between personal desire and professional duty becomes a central tension.

When the program nears its end, Sal secretly follows Ava to her workplace, a strip club, to spend more time with Zoe without revealing his identity. He pursues continued intimacy while navigating ethical and personal complications. The double life he leads raises the stakes for everyone involved.

Sal learns that Ava has lost her own child and uses hosting as an escape from daily life rather than a genuine longing to reconnect with Zoe. Ava's vulnerability adds complexity to their relationship. The revelation broadens the moral grey area of the technology.

With the sessions exceeding the recommended limit, Ava starts recalling small details from Zoe's past, making the connection feel more real and dangerous. The partial memories intensify their bond and blur lines between host and deceased. Ava's growing awareness begins to threaten the arrangement.

Ava finally discovers Sal's true identity and withdraws from him, destabilizing their fragile relationship and sending Sal into renewed despair. The exposure underscores the cost of crossing ethical boundaries. The emotional spiral tightens as Sal confronts loss again.

Ava contacts Ebe and expresses a desire to meet Sal again, reopening the possibility of continuing their relationship. Ebe contemplates the personal and professional consequences of such a meeting. The relationship remains in a fragile limbo.

Ebe is fired from Aeternum for resuscitating her brother and for enabling a nontherapeutic relationship, paying a high price for her actions. The company distances itself from the experimental program and its consequences. The personal cost to Ebe is immediate and severe.

Sal and Zoe/Ava wake up together after spending the night, sharing a smile that hints at a fragile second chance. The moment suggests hope amid loss, but the future remains uncertain. Their bond persists in a world where memory and identity intertwine.