November 3rd, 2020

It was a dull, overcast Autumn evening, a perfect day for a stroll before dinner. The gentleman went to his favorite coffee shop to pick up his usual, then crossed the street to sit in the sunshine as he drank. He had just settled down when something blocked his sunlight. He peered up at a rather tall man standing above him. The stranger smiled brightly at him, holding out a bag from the local sandwich shop.

"Evening, Mr. Henry Sanders!" The stranger said excitedly.

"Can I... help you? Henry asked. The bag he was holding smelled familiar.

"I don't think you can, but I can help you!" He held the bag out to him. "Turkey, ham, cheddar, swiss, lettuce and *light* mayo on rye, toasted for one minute!"

Henry was shocked, that was the way he had ordered his sandwiches for the last two years.

"Smells good, no?" The stranger held it near his nose.

"What is this? Who are you?!" Henry jumped off the bench, "How did you know-"

"Know what your favorite sandwich is? Simple!" The man shrugged. "I've been following you for a week now!"

"Wha-" Henry backed away from the man. He'd never seen this stranger before, and with such red hair he would've noticed him, he stood out like a sore thumb.

"Well, okay. Not technically a week by your time." The man sighed. "I've followed you for seven days in frozen time. So I guess..." He trailed off, counting on his fingers and muttering to himself.

"Okay... This has been... well..." Henry pretended to look at his watch. "This has been interesting, but I... have a-"

"Doctor's appointment, right?" The man cut in, "Now we both know that's a lie! And- nope!" He cut Henry off again, "You don't work today! In fact, you're free the whole day aside from having to pick up your dry-cleaning, though you were considering going tomorrow at lunch time so you could stop by that new Chinese place, right?"

Henry was beginning to freak out. He had indeed a free day for the first time in months, and he'd made sure to keep it a secret from his friends so that he could take a break from everything. And he'd only received a call from the dry cleaners ten minutes ago that his clothes were ready, and there was no one around when he did.

"How did you know that- who are you?!"

"Well, and I know you're not going to believe me, but I am a time traveler." He paused. "No that's not it... like... you seen the movie 'Groundhog Day?' It's kind of like that!"

Henry decided he'd had enough. He quickly walked away, towards his car.

"You want proof, right? I got your proof!" The stranger shouted after him. Henry kept walking. "How'd you like to win the lottery?"

Henry stopped for a moment, as the stranger had hoped. "What do you mean?" Henry asked.

"Go to that convenience store," The stranger pointed to the one next to the coffee shop, "buy the 'Lady Luck' lotto card, and enter numbers 11, 03, 20, 10, and 25."

Henry hesitated, believing himself crazy, before deciding to give it a go. Even if the man was wrong, he did have as good a chance as anyone else, right? He mumbled to himself, entering the store. He would've laughed at the ridiculousness of everything, were it not for the man following him inside. The man helped him fill out the numbers before passing it to the cashier. The woman entered the ticket and waited, before a look of shock came over her face.

"Dude! You just won $20,000!" She exclaimed. "You single?"

"No my dear, he's taken, and you can't call him sometime. Good day!"

With a wide grin on his face the stranger led Henry out the door. Once back at the park the stranger sat on the bench with anticipation. Henry, still somewhat in shock, finally sighed.

"Alright." He decided. "Let's hear it. Who are you? What's really going on here?"

The man relaxed before speaking. "My name is Archibald Pepperson, you can call me Archie! And I'm... well, I seem to be trapped in frozen time, repeating the same day every day." Henry raised his eyebrows in a scowl. "No really, watch! There goes the man with an umbrella that's going to malfunction... now!"

Henry heard a strange metallic crash followed by swearing. Across the street a man was struggling to pick up his umbrella. A young woman brushed past him in a frustrated stride.

"Want to know why she's so mad?" Archie asked. "She's about to catch her boyfriend having coffee with her sister, he swore he was out of town."

"How did you-" Henry began as the woman wrenched open the door, screaming in an animated way.

"I followed her, for two weeks." Archie began, "I've been following people for years, learning how to get them to open up for me. People are surprisingly guarded against strangers nowadays..."

"I guess you're right..." Henry considered. "Why those numbers?"

"It's the day I was stuck in frozen time..." He half chuckled, "November 3rd, 2020. At exactly 10:25pm, my day resets. And every day I wake up at 10:25am, November 3rd, 2020. It seems to be a lucky number for everyone but me."

Henry frowned. Hs brain couldn't comprehend everything, it was impossible to make sense of. The man was completely calm as Henry examined him. He didn't seem like a threat, maybe he was crazy? If he was, should someone call the police? Henry figured there had to be a kernel of truth to all this, seeing as how he called all those things before they happened. Maybe something could come of this... he did have a free day anyway, and nothing planned...

"Okay." He finally decided. "Let's pretend I believe you- which I don't, by the way. What do you want me to do about it?"

Archie's smile turned into a frown. "I'll be honest here Henry, I don't think there's anything you can do for me... I've tried with so many people already, I've about given up hope. But what else can I do?" he pulled a black leather-bound notebook from his pocket, showing it to Henry. "I've been trying for years now to get a message past this time loop. I've written notes, left messages in houses, on the telephone, Heck! I've graffitied on the streets! Did a day in jail for that one! Nothing makes it through, everything resets at 10:25pm, and I'm back where I started!" He held the little black book in the air. "The only thing that holds my writing through the resets is this little book. That's why every chance I get, I give it to other people."

Henry studied the man, his brow furrowed as he watched the sun setting in the distance. Finally Archie turned to Henry.

"Listen, I know we just met, and I know you don't owe me anything, but could you do me a simple favor?" Henry nodded as Archie held the book out. "Take this, find my family, the address is printed on the back of it. Give them this and tell them what's happened to me. They probably won't believe you, but over time they'll have to realize you were telling the truth!"

Henry nodded with a smile. "I'd be honored to, Archie." Archie smiled. "But what if..."

"What if you wake up tomorrow with no memory of this, right?" Archie sniffed, "It's okay, it's happened time and time again, no one's been able to help me yet, but I'm going to keep trying. So I guess," he smiled, "don't worry about it. I haven't given up yet!"

Henry smiled, before checking his watch. "Well, it's only eight, how about a bite to eat, on me?"

Archie perked up. "Wonderful! I haven't had anything to eat since twelve days ago! He paused as Henry gave him a concerned look. "Time loop thing, don't really get hungry! But I still love the taste of food!" Both men laughed as they headed to Henry's car.

Henry drove the two of them to the local diner, where they talked and ate till about ten. After paying the bill, Henry shook Archie's hand.

"Well, I guess it's almost time then?" Henry asked.

"Yes, I'm afraid so...' Archie sighed. He looked Henry in the eyes, "Out of all the people I've talked to, I think you've been the kindest yet. Thank you, Henry. I'm sorry."

"No, I'm happy to help," Henry felt himself tearing up, trying to keep a straight face, "I'm sorry you've been through all this..." He reached for the book, but Archie held back for a moment.

"One more thing, I'm sorry, could you promise not to read this until tomorrow?" Archie asked sheepishly. "It contains a lot of... frankly, embarrassing things meant only for my family's eyes. Could you swear to me you'll wait?"

Henry was disappointed, eager to read the supposed impossible, but still nodded. "I swear, my friend."

"Friend... I can't remember the last time someone's called me that..." Archie hesitated, holding the book tightly before resolving and handing the book to him. Henry took it, placing it securely in the back pocket of his pants.

"Well, I hope I'll see you tomorrow!" Henry smiled, "Or... not? Tomorrow? No, Tomorrow, tomorrow, not today..." He muttered.

Archie smiled. "I understand, and me too friend!" The town clock chimed 10:15pm, and both men shivered in the cold.

"I guess, I'll see you tomorrow..." Archie said softly, "I'm excited!"

The men watched the clock face as the minute hand grew closer and closer to the reset time. As the second hand rounded the clock for the last minute, Archie took a step back, smiling at Henry.

The last thing Henry heard was Archie's faint voice. "I'm sorry..."

Henry awoke with the worse headache he'd had in a very long time. Bleary-eyed and disoriented, he looked around his room. What a dream, he thought to himself. He checked his alarm clock, 10:25am.

"I'm going to be late!" He exclaimed, jumping out of bed, throwing on his clothes before grabbing his briefcase. He was in such a hurry he didn't notice the lump in his back pocket until he sat in his car. Hesitantly, in disbelief, he reached down and pulled out... Archie's little black book! There was no doubt!

"It worked!" Henry exclaimed! "It worked!!"

In sheer delight he drove over to the park where he had first seen Archie. He searched all around, from the park to the convenience store, the coffee shop to the sandwich place. Archie was nowhere to be found. Henry was determined to find his new friend.

"Forget work!" He declared as he jumped into the car again, "I've got to find my friend!"

He turned the book over to read the address on the back. It was a thirty minute drive from him, not to far at all! He set his navigation app and took off, excited to see his friend's face when he showed up! After about thirty minutes the app announced he had arrived. He looked out the window, a sinking feeling overcoming him. At this particular address was an old, dilapidated house. It was clearly empty and unused for years. Henry gasped, wracking his brain for answers. Suddenly he remembered Archie's last words. He turned the book over to the front cover, his hands shaking. He opened the book slowly, leafing through the pages as sweat poured from his head. The pages were completely empty, save for one entry in the middle of the page.

"To whosoever this book befell,

Know this passage, know it well.

As time shall halt and yet renew,

So shall it be till owned anew."

Henry puzzled over the writing, before slowly checking his phone. The phone read 11:00am, November 3rd, 2020.