The Choice

I never knew my father. He died when I was a baby, in a car accident. My mother never talked much about him, except to say that he was a good man and that he loved me very much. She said he left something for me, something that I would inherit when I turned 18.

That day came last week. On my birthday, my mother gave me a small metal box, wrapped in a red ribbon. She said it was from my father, and that he wanted me to have it. She said it was a device that he had invented, a device that could do something amazing.

"What does it do?" I asked, curious and excited.

She hesitated, and then said, "It can let you talk to him."

I was stunned. I couldn't believe what I had heard. How could that be possible? How could a device let me talk to my dead father?

My mother explained that my father was a genius, a scientist who worked on cutting-edge technology. He had been working on a project that involved quantum communication, a way of sending and receiving messages across time and space. He had created a device that could connect to a parallel universe, a universe where he was still alive.

She said that he had tested the device before he died, and that he had managed to contact his other self, his counterpart in the other universe. He had recorded some of their conversations, and stored them in the device. He had also programmed the device to allow me to communicate with him, when I was old enough.

She said that he had left a message for me, a message that I could listen to by pressing a button on the device. She said that he had also left instructions on how to use the device, and how to contact him in the other universe. She said that he had a lot to tell me, a lot to share with me, a lot to teach me.

She said that he had a secret, a shocking secret that he wanted me to know.

She handed me the device, and told me to be careful with it. She told me to use it wisely, and to respect my father's wishes. She told me to be ready for anything, and to be brave.

She told me to press the button.

I did.

I heard a voice, a voice that sounded like mine, but older and deeper. A voice that I had never heard before, but that I recognized instantly. A voice that I had always wanted to hear, but that I had never expected to hear.

A voice that said, "Hello, son. I'm your father."

I was speechless. I couldn't say anything. I just stared at the device, in disbelief and awe.

The voice continued, "I know this is hard to believe, but it's true. I'm talking to you from another universe, a universe where I'm still alive. I'm sorry I couldn't be with you in this universe, but I'm glad I can talk to you now. I have so much to tell you, so much to explain, so much to apologize for."

"Apologize for what?" I managed to ask, finally finding my voice.

The voice sighed, and then said, "For the reason why I died. For the reason why you're in danger. For the reason why I created this device. For the reason why I have a secret. A secret that you need to know. A secret that could change everything."

"What secret?" I asked, feeling a mix of curiosity and fear.

The voice paused, and then said, "The secret is...I'm not your real father."

I gasped. I couldn't believe what I had heard. How could that be possible? How could he not be my real father?

The voice continued, "I know this is a shock, but it's true. I'm not your biological father. I'm your adoptive father. Your real father is someone else. Someone you don't know. Someone who is very dangerous. Someone who is after you."

"After me? Why?" I asked, feeling a surge of panic.

The voice said, "Because you have something he wants. Something he needs. Something he will stop at nothing to get. Something that is hidden in your DNA. Something that is the key to his plan. A plan that involves destroying this universe, and creating a new one. A plan that I tried to stop, but failed. A plan that you can stop, but only if you act fast. A plan that you need to know. A plan that is the reason why I'm talking to you. A plan that is the reason why I have a secret. A secret that you need to know. A secret that could change everything."

"What secret?" I asked, feeling a wave of confusion and dread.

The voice said, "The secret is...your real father is me."

I screamed. I couldn't believe what I had heard. How could that be possible? How could he be my real father?

The voice said, "I know this is impossible, but it's true. I'm your real father, and your adoptive father. I'm both of them, and neither of them. I'm the same person, and a different person. I'm a paradox, a contradiction, an anomaly. I'm the result of a mistake, a glitch, a flaw. A flaw in the device. A flaw that created a loop. A loop that connected two universes. Two universes that were identical, until they weren't. Two universes that diverged, when I made a choice. A choice that changed everything. A choice that you need to know. A choice that is the reason why I'm talking to you. A choice that is the reason why I have a secret. A secret that you need to know. A secret that could change everything."

"What choice?" I asked, feeling a flood of emotions.

The voice said, "The choice is...to kill you, or to save you."