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The waterworks tend to not start flowing until later episodes, when you're forced to make some pretty tough choices. However, a potential series of tearjerkers can occur as early as Episode 2 if you choose to meet Melissa and pick her up. Upon arriving at her house, you see the reality of her toxic home life and how it affects her physically and emotionally. It's almost heartbreaking how she forces on a brave face and perseveres rather than admitting how broken her home is and actively doing something about it.
Another early example occurs in Episode 3 when you have a flashback to coming home to Ana cheating on you. It can evoke some nightmares, especially in those who have actually experienced something like that or who are afraid of it happening. However, there is solace in knowing that your character continues to persevere, and even find new love; it shows that even hitting rock bottom doesn't spell out the end.
Also in Episode 3, learning that Megan's last (and really one of her only) attempts at a real relationship also ended with the guy cheating on her.
A third Episode 3 example, potentially continuing from the Episode 2 example mentioned above, is seeing Melissa breaking down in tears after having Peter abuse her to the point of extremely visible injury/having to see Peter go ballistic on her mom. The fact that there's a situation that can destroy someone as strong as Melissa to the point of tears is heartwrenching, especially if you've ever had a close friend or SO that had to deal with that sort of thing, or even if you've gotten incredibly attached to Melissa yourself. It's made even more gut wrenching when she straight up tells you how alone she feels in her situation.
Melissa: Thank you so much for caring about me. Besides you and Megan, I feel like no one else does.
In Episode 4, learning that Liam has cancer is absolutely devastating, especially if you've gone through the same experience with a family member or friend. It's almost impossible to not feel sorry for Liam, especially when he starts listing off things he wants to do before/if he dies. It's a very real experience that makes you think about the value of life and how it can be taken away without warning at any time.
In Episode 5, when you end up going to Ana's house to talk about Megan getting the part in the movie she auditioned for, you (the character or yourself, if you understand the feeling), have this underlying sense of dread at being back there, considering the last time you were there ended up culminating into being betrayed and devastated by the girl who you thought was your true love, and being forced to leave her and the life that you two could of had behind because any and all trust between you two had been severed. It's a harrowing feeling, and certainly not one that anybody would want to experience.
Episode 6. Between Peter breaking into your house and potentially attempting to rape Megan, Liam starting to give up on life because of his unsuccessful cancer treatment, potentially having to leave Rena in an abusive relationship rather than dating her yourself or encouraging Liam to do so, and having your house set on fire, killing either Megan or Melissa, this episode will break even the most stoic of players. The fallout of all this, leading into Episode 7, is even worse, with you and the surviving girl having to deal with the depression that comes with losing a friend or significant other.
In Episode 7, you begin going to therapy, with this episode and the next time-jumping several times between the sessions and when the events being recounted were actually happening, with visceral, emotional reactions to the trauma occurring every 20 minutes or so.
