If viewers had seen the first two short films, they'd instantly recognize that red mailbox—it was the exact same one from The Love Letter.
After mailing the letter, Annie felt even more anxious.
Deep down, she really didn't want to get a reply. If she did, it would confirm that there was actually a person named Taylor Swift out there who looked exactly like her. That would basically prove her marriage and love were just the result of Luke choosing a replacement.
Maybe that's why she wrote the letter so simply: a subconscious wish that the other person wouldn't write back. Who would bother replying to a letter like that anyway? The address was years old—they had probably moved by now, right?
But soon enough, a reply was waiting in her mailbox, shattering all her lingering hope.
She actually exists!
Annie's eyes welled up. She opened the letter with trembling hands.
Dear Ms. Anne,
We've never met, and I'm not sure why you're writing to me, but I hope you feel better soon.
By the way, I'm doing great!
Taylor Swift
February 19, 1997
This seemed like a very kind woman, showing goodwill to a random stranger who wrote to her out of the blue. But was she a little careless?
What the heck was 1997? It was clearly 2002!
Still, since this person was real, Annie had to figure out her connection to Luke. So, she wrote back:
"Do you know Luke? I'm his wife, Annie . I saw your graduation photo—you two were classmates, right?"
"Please stop kidding around! I'm Luke's girlfriend, and he's only 18 this year. Where would he get a wife? Plus, we haven't even graduated yet!"
Annie quickly received another reply.
Luke is 18? His girlfriend?
Annie suddenly realized what was happening. She wrote back right away: "I'm so sorry, I was just making a joke. What year is it where you are?"
"It's 1997, of course!"
That's when Annie figured it out: the brand-new red mailbox in front of her house seemed to have some kind of time-travel magic, delivering letters to herself five years in the past. Even though the person was named Taylor Swift, she looked exactly like Annie and was dating Luke. It had to be her; what were the odds otherwise?
She just didn't know why she had changed her name after losing her memory.
Regardless, Annie had found a way to recover her memories of Luke. She decided to write to her five-years-younger self and beg her to explain how she and Luke met and fell in love. These details were crucial to her. Even though the memories were gone from her mind, they were still her most cherished past.
"Taylor, can I ask you to tell me the story of you and Luke?" Annie wrote.
"You're a little strange, but I'll tell you about it..."
As she read the words on Taylor's letter, the scene slowly began to unfold.
What's the most popular sport on American college campuses?
Some people might think it's basketball, since the NBA was massive in the early 2000s, with Jordan, Kobe, O'Neal, and other superstars in their prime, boosted by the popularity of the Slam Dunk anime. Maybe by 2024, basketball could go head-to-head with baseball for the number two spot.
But no matter the era, football (American football) is the undisputed number-one sport in the U.S. The Super Bowl is practically North America's equivalent of a national holiday, which shows just how popular the sport is here.
Taylor, wearing a long dress, walked into the locker room of the school's football team. She was a new transfer student who had just joined the cheerleading squad.
Screeech!
As she pulled open the locker room door, she stumbled right into a solid chest.
"Whoa!"
Losing her balance, she was caught by a strong arm.
"You okay?"
The black-haired guy in front of her looked down, smiling.
That was Luke, the absolute star of the school's football team and, for years, the only -American quarterback the school had ever had. In American teen movies and TV shows, the most popular guys (the heroes) are often the quarterback of the football team. In American football, the quarterback is the soul of the team; every offensive play revolves around him.
The standard quarterback image is usually a tall, handsome, blonde-haired white guy—like a golden-haired paladin in a fantasy novel—the dream guy for countless girls.
So how did a black-haired -American like Luke become the quarterback?
A quick montage of game footage flashed by, showing that Luke had won everyone over with his exceptional athleticism and strategic genius, making him the team's undisputed core.
Being held by the school's heartthrob naturally made Taylor's heart race, and his intense gaze left her completely captivated.
In the days that followed, their relationship quickly heated up and they became closer and closer.
However, the original cheerleading captain saw it all. Jealousy burned inside her. She had always thought Luke was her guy and couldn't believe Taylor, the new girl, had swooped in and stolen him.
So, she gathered a group of girls and cornered Taylor against a wall. Just as she raised her hand to slap Taylor, Luke appeared and caught her wrist.
The rest of the story was pretty standard, but these things happen all the time. The former cheerleading captain, blinded by rage, seduced a football player and tried to get him to throw the crucial final game to make Luke lose. But Luke, relying on his unbelievable skill, managed a complete comeback victory.
The cheerleading captain's malicious plan was exposed, and she was kicked off the squad. Taylor became the new cheerleading captain.
After reading Taylor's account of her past with Luke, Annie felt a profound sense of satisfaction. Even though she couldn't remember any of it, knowing that she and Luke had shared such an intensely passionate youth was enough. She felt she could face the end of her life content and at peace.
Then, a sudden idea popped into her head:
Taylor is only 17 right now!
If she could realize her illness now and start taking medication early, wouldn't she be able to avoid this tragedy? She could live a long and happy life with Luke, growing old together.
But the only way for that to happen was if Annie told her everything in a letter.
So, should she tell her?
In that moment, a massive feeling of unfairness welled up in Annie. If she told her, Taylor would get to live happily ever after with Luke.
But what about me?
Why do I have to walk toward death all alone? Why does my fate have to be so tragic?
She might be the person I was five years ago, but she is not me!