Melissa Jeltsin

It didn't take long for Talena and Corey's lives to become intertwined. Soon enough, Corey was over at Kim's getting her own haircut. While Talena was adventurous with her hair, dyeing it different colors and even doing a perm, Corey preferred a look some might call a mullet.

It didn't take long for Talena and Corey's lives to become intertwined. Soon enough, Corey was over at Kim's getting her own haircut. While Talena was adventurous with her hair, dyeing it different colors and even doing a perm, Corey preferred a look some might call a mullet.

Corey quickly fell in with Talena's social circle, too. Here's Greg again.

Corey quickly fell in with Talena's social circle, too. Here's Greg again.

Greg found a kindred spirit in Corey. She too was a handyman of sorts. Strong, industrious.

Greg found a kindred spirit in Corey. She too was a handyman of sorts. Strong, industrious.

Corey also found unique ways to make money, like buying people's old stuff and selling it on eBay. And Greg thought maybe he could do that too.

Corey also found unique ways to make money, like buying people's old stuff and selling it on eBay. And Greg thought maybe he could do that too.

Talena seemed to really enjoy having a friend around, too. It lifted her spirits. Here's Eris again. Having Cory there improved her quality of life.

Talena seemed to really enjoy having a friend around, too. It lifted her spirits. Here's Eris again. Having Cory there improved her quality of life.

While Corey's presence was a comfort, there were clues that Talena was still struggling with Tom's loss. In November of 2019, a few months before COVID hit, Talena wrote a note to her friends on Facebook entitled, Grief Etiquette. Here's a reenactment of some of that post.

While Corey's presence was a comfort, there were clues that Talena was still struggling with Tom's loss. In November of 2019, a few months before COVID hit, Talena wrote a note to her friends on Facebook entitled, Grief Etiquette. Here's a reenactment of some of that post.

Aris described Talena as assertive and good at setting boundaries.

Aris described Talena as assertive and good at setting boundaries.

Paris does.

Paris does.

Quick note. You've heard most of Talena's cryptic Facebook post already. But there's a few lines I withheld that mention Tom. Now that you know who he is, this will make more sense.

Quick note. You've heard most of Talena's cryptic Facebook post already. But there's a few lines I withheld that mention Tom. Now that you know who he is, this will make more sense.

And this part of the post, it resonates with those who knew Talena in real life, who'd witnessed her debilitating depression after Tom's death. Here again is Nicole, who saw Talena just a few weeks before she went missing.

And this part of the post, it resonates with those who knew Talena in real life, who'd witnessed her debilitating depression after Tom's death. Here again is Nicole, who saw Talena just a few weeks before she went missing.