After a merge, you can check for flags to remember which branch you took before at ANY time in your story.  You can use “if” and “else” to direct what a character should say or do based on a choice they made.  For example:

HAYES

How was your walk?

YOU

Really good.

if (MET_ROBERT_FROST){

YOU

I took a different route.

And met a famous poet!

} else {

YOU

I took my usual route.

}

HAYES

Sounds fun!

In short, “if” the reader made a choice earlier in which they gained the flag “MET_ROBERT_FROST” then they will say that to Hayes.  Else (otherwise) they will say “I took my usual route.”

You can create complex story deviations with this technique, allowing players to meet new people, learn new information, visit new places, etc.  Just remember that you must ALWAYS close all of your loops narratively.  A players should never need information they may not have, or be stuck because they did not make a certain choice.  You can see more flag examples in the Example Script: Complex Choices