Timecapsule

The smell of booze wafted in Daniel's living room. Cigarette stench stained the air. Daniel lay on the couch mindlessly staring at the football game on his cheap tv set. Brown, glass bottles littered the floor and tables. He could hear the couple upstairs yelling at each other for the fifth time that hour. 

Daniel tried to drown it all out. The horrible apartment he could barely afford, his growing addiction, everything. 

Thinking about the past is something that is both painful and bittersweet to Daniel. If his old high school classmates could see him now, they'd be shocked. 

How could Daniel go from the star quarterback to this? That's what they'd think. Daniel told himself that again and again. 

He wanted to get off the couch. He wanted to go to college and play football again. He wanted to make friends and be happy, but he felt like it was too late. His life was already over. He couldn't bring himself to care anymore. Daniel told himself that again and again. 

The tv roared with cheering. One of the football teams had made a touchdown. A tear ran down Daniel's cheek as he imagined how his own crowd had cheered his name. 

Daniel! Daniel! Daniel!

His doorbell suddenly rang. He slowly stood up wincing at the sharp pain in his head. He shuffled through the clutter to the door. He peaked through the peephole and to his surprise saw his dad standing on the other side. Daniel hastily straightened out his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair. The doorbell rang again impatiently. 

“Just a second!” yelled Daniel as he hurriedly kicked bottles under the couch. He walked back to the door and stood there for a second, mentally preparing himself. His palms sweated as he reached out to unlock the door. Daniel swung the door open. 

“Hey dad,” Daniel said, not being able to meet his father’s eyes. 

“Look me in the eyes when you speak to me.” Daniel sharply lifted his gaze to meet his father’s. 

Daniel questioned his dad suspiciously, “What are you doing here?”

“Can’t I come to visit my son?” 

“You never visit…” mumbled Daniel.

“Speak up, Daniel. You know how I hate when you mutter,” scoffed his dad. “Well, aren’t you going to let me in?”

Daniel stood aside and waited for his dad to walk in. Daniel closed the door and turned to see his dad surveying the room with dismay. 

“Daniel-” started his dad, but stopped when he saw Daniel’s face. His dad sighed and went to sit on the couch. He brushed off the crumbs and sat. He patted the cushion next to him, motioning for Daniel to join him. Daniel hesitantly went to go sit on the couch. 

“Dad, why are you here? Really.” 

“Something came in the mail for you. It must’ve been sent to our address by mistake so I thought I’d come to bring it to you,” his dad explained, “...you’re mother misses you…I do too.” 

“I’m not going back to that town. Not ever.” 

“I wasn’t going to offer-” started his dad.

“Yes you were.” finished Daniel.

“Fine, if you want to keep living in this dump then that’s your decision. I don’t want you to come crying to me when you realize that you’ve wasted your life and your potential. You had something, great son… I saw the way you looked after a football game,” his dad told him sadly.

“If I wanted you to tell me something I already know I would’ve asked,” replied Daniel angrily standing up from the couch. His dad sighed in defeat and stood up. His dad handed him a small box filled with dirt at the seams. 

Daniel’s dad walked to the door and opened it, “call me if you need anything,” and walked out. Daniel dropped back on the couch, relieved that he was finally gone. Daniel and his dad never had a strong relationship. His father always wanted Daniel to become something great. He pushed him, perhaps too much. Daniel’s mother, on the other hand, their bond was unbreakable. He loved his mom and confided in her with everything. When Daniel moved away from home she was heartbroken. Daniel had been too ashamed to call her, afraid she would be disappointed in him like his dad is. 

Daniel looked down at the box in his hands. His name was stamped on the corner with his parents’ house address on it. In the middle of the box, it said, Daniel L. year 2010, TImecapsule. 

Daniel’s heart dropped. He carefully opened the box and stared in. There was a 10-dollar bill, a deflated football signed by himself, and a handwritten letter placed in the box. He pulled out the letter and prepared himself. He had no idea what his 18-year-old self would say to him now. He was sure that he would be just as disappointed, if not more, than his dad.

Dear Daniel,

Hey dude! What’s up? It's me, your past self. Mrs. Jenson thinks that making this capsule will help our future selves. So, I put in 10 dollars to help you out with whatever you need. Also, this deflated football, cause why not!

I know dad wants us to become a big football star, but I’m guessing that didn’t happen. It's alright though because I know I would be proud of myself no matter what. Even if dad isn’t. 

I hope me and mom are still as close as we are now. I don’t know what we would do without her. 

Anyways, good luck in life. I hope we are happy in the future. 

Sincerely, Daniel

Tears streamed down Daniel’s face as he gently folded the note and set it next to him. He solemnly got up to grab his phone from the kitchen counter. He listened to the ring as he called his mother. He figured it was time for a call. 

“Daniel?” said his mother on the other end of the phone. 

“Hi, mom, I’ve missed you. I think I want to come back home.”