One of Those Days

Past is halfway home before he notices the foreboding clouds hanging low in the sky. It is difficult to see them from far away. At first, he thinks it is just a small, localized storm, but it seems odd that these clouds are drastically enclosed and dark as night. There is a stark contrast with the rest of the city, which is bright, sunny, and warm. As he continues in the storm’s direction, he realizes it is over his neighborhood.

“Just my luck, it’s only raining in my area.”

He is disappointed as he thinks about not being able to go for his after-work walk. This is when he ponders the obstacles his project faces. If the rain continues, he will not be able to work on the machine with the garage door open. The air in there is often stale and sometimes he requires the ventilation. No one ever bothers him anyway. He sulks as this upsets him further.

As he drives nearer, he feels that something is off about this storm. The clouds are much lower and darker than what is normal. There are no other clouds in the sky except this patch, which is heavily confined to a small area. Upon arriving in his neighborhood, his disappointment turns to bewilderment as he realizes it is quite serious. He stops his car at the intersection in complete sunshine. He watches in awe as a wall of rain falls down before him on the other side of the street. It is only his city block that is engulfed in the storm.

“I’m no weatherologist, but this isn’t normal.”

Past notices a curious glow in the storm. Focusing on looking through the heavy rain, he is able to distinguish a small line of light hovering over his garage. As he concentrates on it, the light suddenly becomes brighter. His bewilderment turns to fear. Chills run up his spine and goosebumps cover his arms.

“Guess I’ll park out front.”

Past continues driving along his street. The closest parking spot is a few row houses down from his own. He parks, gets his house key ready, and runs at a full sprint through the storm. The rain is so intense, he is completely saturated by the time he gets inside. Taking a minute to catch his breath, he tries to shake off some of the water. As he turns the corner, Past comes to an abrupt stop. There is a man sitting at his table, looking straight at him.

Past panics, stumbles, and thinks ‘Is this man robbing me?’

Past starts to concentrate on the man as he stands back up. This man’s features are nearly identical to his own. But his face is worn, aged, and he has a full beard. Past strokes his clean-shaven face. He always thought a beard would be inappropriate for office work. He almost expects the man to say he is a lost older brother. Perhaps even a long-lost twin who led a hard life, causing him to look aged. But deep-down Past knows the truth. He is staring at himself!

The future version of himself stares back intensely. Future concentrates on Past’s facial features, relishing the smooth skin of his youth. Past walks over and takes a seat across the table. They are both completely fixated on the other’s appearance.

After a minute, Past brakes the silence. “So, I guess it works?”

“Eventually,” Future tells him.

Past looks past Future and sees the strange line of light over the garage is now glowing, growing, and stretching towards the sky.

Past nods towards the anomaly. “I take it you saw all that?”

“I saw.”

“Did you cause it?”

“Possibly.” Future shrugs. “Probably. I still don’t completely understand the physics of it.”

“What are you going to do about it?”

“I have a few ideas, none of them good.” Future spoke matter-of-factly, showing little emotion.

Past suddenly jumps up from the table and paces back and forth.

“How did this even happen? How did you get here?” Past asks frantically.

“I’m not entirely sure. Again, I still don’t understand everything.”

“I thought it was impossible to travel against the flow of time?”

“Improbable.” Future gives a sarcastic laugh, “well I guess now it’s very probable.”

Past focuses fiercely on Future. “This is not a laughing matter.”

Future straightens himself out. “You’re right.”

They hear a low rumbling and go look out the window. The line of light has started to consume the garage roof tiles. It is as if the tiles are being transported right out of reality.

Past becomes more tense. “Is it, is it ripping apart spacetime?”

Future calmly shrugs again as he watches the optical oddity. The light is in a cylindrical shape, with a thinner beam slowly growing out of the top. The roof tiles are gradually lifted up by the suction from the light like a giant vacuum. Ultimately, they break off the plywood underneath and fly towards the center of the light. Then they disappear, not coming out the other side.

“Ugh! Stop telling me you don’t understand. You must have a better understanding than I do. Tell me something!”

“Yes, I think whatever is happening is because I’m here and yes, I think it is starting to rip apart spacetime. There. Are you happy now?”

Past stops pacing. “No. What can we do about it?”

Future drops his head and sighs.

“What? Can’t we just send you back in your vessel?”

“No, I crashed into yours on entry.”

“How bad is the damage?”

“Could be worse.”

“Stop your nonsense! Give me some straight answers! How long to fix it?”

“Minimum five or six months, depending on parts availability.”

“Five or six months?!” Past exclaims.

“Five or six at best. Realistically I would say a year.”

“I can’t deal with this,” Past says in desperation. “I need a break.”

Past walks over to the kitchen sink and splashes water on his face.

“This is a great time to take a break.” Future stares blankly outside, “how about we go get tacos?”

Past looks at Future but does not respond. Instead he pours himself a glass of water and downs it in one gulp. He refills the glass and takes a small sip.

They both continue to watch the light phenomenon grow in size, brightness, and destructiveness. It is now tall enough that Past assumes everyone in the city can see it. The rain falls in bucket loads. The only thing visible outside is the spreading scintillation on top of the garage and a small space around it.

Past slumps into a chair. “Obviously, we don’t have a year.”

“Obviously.”

“How long do you think we have?”

“I’m not entirely sure, but probably not very long. It’s not like we can sleep on this. I do know that it didn’t start growing until just before you got here.”

They stare back at the light, which seems to be surrounding a complete nothingness. Most of the garage roof is now gone, as if it just no longer exists. Lighting strikes a tree a few houses down, illuminating the area. A deafening thunder rattles the house. They both cover their ears with their hands.

“What are you saying? Us being close together is causing this?”

“I think the universe might be upset there are two of us occupying the same part of spacetime, yes.”

“We both know the universe doesn’t get upset.”

Another round of thunder violently shakes the house.

“You sure about that?” Future asks condescendingly.

“Okay, so are you just going to leave? I’ll give you the car and my credit card.”

“I don’t think it works like that.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I leave town, we’ll still be existing in the same spacetime. It might slow things down but it’s not going to stop. Not with both of us in this reality.”

Past looks at Future in despair as he finally figures out Future’s intentions. “No. No!”

“We know it’s the only way.”

“No, there is always another way. We’re smart, we can figure this out.”

“I already have figured it out!” Future proclaims.

“Don’t say it!” Past pleads.

“One of us has to die.”

Past again jumps out of his chair. “This is absurd! You can’t just jump to a conclusion that involves the taking of human life. You have to consider other options and brainstorm more possible solutions.”

Lighting strikes down the opposite end of the street. Past goes to the window and looks up. The light now reaches into the sky farther than he can see.

“It could rip apart this whole world,” Future tries to rationalize with Past.

“We can stop it!”

“People will die!” Future finally shouts back.

Past thinks about the people he knows and loves, his family and friends. Then he starts thinking about all those he does not know, little children on the other side of the planet.

“You know I’m right. Sacrifice one life to save billions.”

Past turns to face Future. “You don’t have to do this. You don’t have to die.”

Future immediately stiffens up. “Who said it would be me?”

“I’m the past you. If I die, you won’t ever exist. But if you die, I’ll still be here.”

“That is incorrect. I am not you.”

“Look outside! Obviously, you are me, that’s the whole source of the problem.”

“I was you until I travelled back into your timeline. Then I ceased to be you and became me.”

“What are you talking about? You can’t possibly live without me.”

Future jumps up and spins around. “Look at me now, living without you. There is no indication that would change if you were no longer here.”

Past becomes concerned for his life. “No, listen, I’m your past. There cannot be a future version of a person who doesn’t exist in the past.”

“Incorrect again. You are not my past self.”

Past looks confused.

“None of this ever happened in my past. No one showed up while I was building the vessel. I remember this weekend, and all this, this didn’t happen.”

“Okay but we are still the same person. What happens to me will happen to you.”

“Then you would think my memories would update to include this conversation. But that isn’t happening. If we have this supposed connection, don’t you think I would know?”

Past turns defensive. “This isn’t fair! You came here. You caused the rift in spacetime. You should be the one to take responsibility for your mistakes.”

“Mistakes? No, there were no mistakes. I made a scientific breakthrough. I’m changing the world.”

“You don’t even know if my death will solve the problem. Why should I die for your actions?”

“I unlocked a secret of time that will advance humanity into the next stage of our evolution. It’s not my fault that you have become obsolete.”

Past is afraid of Future’s intentions. “Look, you need to think this all the way through. My death could still have dire consequences. I belong in this timeline. Changing that could cause the death of innocent people. I know you don’t want that on your conscience. If you die, there’s no change. Nothing is left to chance. Believe me, I won’t continue building it.”

Future gives a long, excessive sigh. “I was really hoping you wouldn’t say that.”

“You can’t be serious! After all this you would still continue experimenting?”

“Of course! This discovery will change the direction of human history. I have an obligation to continue!”

“What if you’re wrong? What if you destroy everything in the process?”

“It isn’t destroyed yet.”

“Look outside, it’s currently happening! Killing me could culminate the destruction.”

Future becomes aggravated. “You are not me! I am me! We have ceased to be the same person. Different thoughts run through my mind.” He takes a deep breath. “Look at me! Breathing, talking, living; all completely independent of you. The very instant I arrived here our paths split apart. Your life no longer affects mine.”

Past searches his mind for a defense.

“This is a whole new timeline, yet to be written. I’m a whole new you.”

“The many worlds theory?”

“Now you’re starting to get it. My past will always exist as my past, which you are not part of. There is no logical reason to think that if your life stopped, mine would as well.”

A look of determination comes over Past. “I’ll prove it to you.”

Past walks into the kitchen, opens a drawer, and pulls out a knife. He places his hand on the counter and raises the knife in the air, poised to strike.

“Don’t be a complete idiot.”

Past looks at the knife and puts it back in the drawer. He sighs heavily. Quickly he pulls out a fork and without hesitation stabs himself in the hand. He screams out in pain as the fork stands straight up in his hand. He pulls it out, screaming again. There are four deep wounds, all bleeding. They both watch Future’s hand intensely for several minutes. No scars appear.

“But I don’t understand it,” Past mutters.

“See, I’m not stupid enough to actually stab myself.”

Past washes his hand and wraps it up. “Drastic times and all that.”

“Yeah, no, you’re a complete moron who stabbed himself. You’re still just tinkering in your garage, years away from any real discovery. My knowledge is more useful to the planet. You should sacrifice yourself for the greater good.”

“Commit suicide for you? No,” Past scoffs, “I will not.”

“It’s not for me, it’s for the planet. And I’m not asking you.”

Past runs over to the cabinet and brandishes a pistol. He points it at Future, his hands shaking and tears streaming down.

“This is all crazy! We can think of another way!”

Lighting strikes the side of house. They both feel the electricity surge underneath their feet.

“There isn’t time for anything else. This is the only way.”

“I have the gun! I’m holding all the cards.”

“If you shoot me, you’ll regret it. Do the world a favor and put that gun in your mouth.”

The roar of thunder breaks the window behind Future. Rain gushes in like a waterfall.

“I’m sorry.” Past flinches as he squeezes the trigger; only to hear a click when the gun does not fire. Past racks back the slide and looks inside to see an empty weapon.

“I told you you’d regret it.”

Past puts the gun down. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“You didn’t mean to what? To point a gun at me? To pull the trigger? Or you didn’t mean for it to not work?”

Past stutters softly and incoherently. Future reaches to the small of his back, retrieves an identical pistol, and sets it on the table in front of him. He turns the gun on the table, so that the barrel faces Past.

“Please.”

“Of course I know where you keep your gun.”

“Please. I’m sorry.”

Future grabs the gun and stands up. “You’re only sorry that it didn’t work. You know, this whole thing was never really an option. I just wanted to make you feel better about the outcome. I was hoping you’d be more understanding.”

“More understanding? You’re threatening to kill me! Don’t you know me at all?”

“As every minute passes, I feel I know you less and less. But I did think that you, of all people, would understand. You shouldn’t be sad; you’re giving your life for a higher cause.”

Past cries, his whole-body shivering, “I’m begging you.”

Future raises up his gun and takes aim.

“You don’t have to do this.”

Thunder again shakes the house. Future sighs heavily then squeezes the trigger. Past is struck in the chest and falls to the floor. Future walks over and stands on top of him as Past wheezes and coughs up blood.

“Your name will live forever in history,” Future tells Past.

Past closes his eyes and stops breathing. Future stands there for a minute, looking at the lifeless body. He walks over to the broken window and looks outside. The rain has slowed to all but a drizzle. Future runs to the other window and looks at the garage. The roof is completely gone, but so is the line of light reaching up to the sky. The houses he can see are all damaged in some way. Roofs and siding torn off, windows broken, and debris scattered everywhere.

As Future surveys the destruction, he recognizes his old ring tone. He walks back to Past’s body, removes the phone from his pocket, and answers it.

“Hello?”

“Hey, are you okay? There was like a tornado or something on your end of town.”

“Janet? Hey, it’s nice to hear from you.”

“Uh, we talked like two hours ago. Are you okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. There was an intense storm, but it looks like it’s clearing up.”

“Do you have any damage?”

Future stares at a picture of Past and Janet hanging on the wall. “Yeah I had a window break. The garage roof is kind of gone.”

“Kind of gone?! Was it a tornado? Your probably in shock, I’m coming over.”

“No it’s really not that bad. Plus I don’t want you to get cut on any broken glass.” Future looks at Past’s body. “You should at least wait until I get this cleaned up.”

“Okay. I was worried about you. I’m happy you’re okay. How about I treat you to dinner tonight? You sound like you can use a drink.”

Future looks in the mirror and strokes his beard. “I could use a drink. Just going to sweep up this glass first. Then I’ll need a quick shower and shave.”

“You ever think about just growing a beard?”

“I’d probably look ridiculous with a beard.”

“You’d probably look hot. How about we meet at that tavern you like on Madison? Around six? Or do you need more time? I can pick you up if you want.”

“Six is fine, I’ll just take a car service.” Past affectionately touches the picture, “see you then.”

“Are you sure you’re okay? You sound a little different.”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Just one of those days.”