The Flip Phone

Ring… Ring… Ring… I stopped in my tracks. I had never heard that sound before. I looked down and saw some weird device. It was ringing? What is that? I started thinking to myself. I picked it up and put it in my pocket. I’d be fired for this in a heartbeat if anyone ever found out. 

Later that night as I’m lying in my bed, I suddenly hear it again, except this time, it was a single beep. I opened and checked it. “Mom: Hey honey, where are you?” I was about to text back when I noticed there was a red dot by something called a voicemail from this person’s mom. I decided to listen to it. “Hey honey. You need to come home soon…. Melody.” 

I called her. “MELODY WHERE ARE YOU?!” Her mom instantly said angrily but also worriedly. “I’m... I’m sorry ma’am, but I don’t think I’m the Melody you’re looking for.” I said with my voice shaking. She replied, heart shaking, “But what do you mean? You are the Melody I need to speak with.” I became speechless, so I pushed the “End Call” button and shut the phone. 

The next day at work the same thing happened all over again. And again. And again. Finally, I decided to do something about this. I called the number back. “Do you finally understand what’s going on?” She asked calmly. “Why the hell has the same day been repeating itself over and over again?” I wasn’t so calm. “It’s going to keep repeating until you come home.” 

“Where is ‘Home’?” I asked. 

“Meet me at the coffee shop by Willow Street. Tomorrow night. 7 PM.” She said, “I’ll explain everything then.” 

“Okay...” I said hesitantly before ending the call. 

I’m heading to the coffee shop when suddenly an old lady stops me. “Melody? Is it really you?” 

“Who are you?” I said nervously.

“We just talked yesterday and you already forgot me?” She let out a tiny laugh. 

“Are you the woman from the call?” I asked confused. 

“Yes. Yes, I am.” She answered confidently.

“Okay. Let’s go to the shop then you can explain EVERYTHING.” I demanded. 

“Okay. Let’s go.” She said energetically. 

As we’re sitting at the table she orders a black coffee. No sugar. Who does that?

 “So… where is ‘home’?” I asked wanting to know the answer right away. 

“Wow. Straight to the point, huh?” She said sarcastically.

 “Stop with the damn jokes. Where is ‘home’? I need this day to stop repeating. I need to fix this.” I said, getting visibly aggravated now.

 “Okay. Okay. Fine. ‘Home’ is the year 2000. I’m your mom. You were actually born in the year 1980, I sent you to the year 2060 when you were a baby so you could nourish. There was however, one condition…” She sounded nervous saying this. “... You need to come to the year 2000 within the next five days. Or else you WILL die.” She said cautiously.