21 comments

Coming of Age Romance Speculative

The shrill ring of my phone pierced through the quiet of my apartment, startling me. I glanced at the screen and froze. The caller ID was my own name. Not a friend, not a family member, but me. Heart pounding, I hesitated, fingers hovering over the answer button. My mind raced, trying to come up with some rational explanation for why I was receiving a call from myself.

Then, curiosity got the better of me.

I answered.

“Hello?” My voice came out breathy, almost afraid.

“Don't go back to him.” The voice on the other end was unmistakable—my voice, but younger, with the sharper edge I hadn’t heard in years. “You’re thinking about it, aren’t you? Don’t pretend you aren’t. I know you.”

I blinked, confusion swirling in my chest. “What the—? Who is this?”

“It’s you,” the voice said, impatient now. “Three years ago. You’re about to make the same mistake all over again, and I’m not going to let you.”

The phone slipped slightly in my grip, and I scrambled to adjust it. My knees wobbled, and I sat down on the couch, my pulse thundering in my ears.

“This is a joke, right? You can’t actually be me.” I tried to inject some sense into the situation, but a part of me—deep down—knew it wasn’t a prank. I didn’t have friends who would mess with me like this, and there was something about the voice. The tone, the phrasing...it was too accurate.

“I’m real,” she said with a sigh, as if tired of explaining. “And if you don’t listen to me, you’re going to regret it. You’re sitting there, trying to convince yourself he’s changed. You think maybe, just maybe, this time it will be different. But it won’t be. He’ll hurt you again.”

I shuddered, memories rushing back unbidden—late nights waiting for his texts, the endless excuses, the feeling of being invisible when I was right next to him. Still, I shook my head, even though she couldn’t see me.

“But he’s reached out, and he says—”

“I know what he says,” she interrupted, her voice dripping with the bitter knowledge that only hindsight could give. “He’s sorry. He’s changed. He misses you. He’ll never do it again.” Her laugh was hollow. “But it’s all lies. He hasn’t changed. He’ll suck you back in, and before you know it, you’ll be back in that same place—crying, wondering why you weren’t enough. Why you’re never enough.”

Tears prickled at the corners of my eyes. “People can change,” I whispered, as much to myself as to the voice on the other end. “What if...what if this time it’s different?”

“No,” she said firmly. “He’ll never be the man you need him to be. I know it feels easier to go back. Familiarity, even when it’s toxic, can be comforting. But you deserve better, and deep down, you know it. Do you really want to go back to those sleepless nights? To that constant knot in your stomach?”

My chest tightened at the thought. I had been holding onto the tiniest thread of hope, convincing myself that maybe I’d overreacted. Maybe I hadn’t given him enough chances. But hearing my past self lay it all out...it was like being hit with a bucket of ice water.

“Why are you calling me now?” I asked, wiping the tears away with the back of my hand. “Why today?”

“Because you’re on the edge, aren’t you? You’ve been thinking about texting him back, and you know once you do, it’s over. You’ll get sucked in, and then it’ll be another six months of bullshit before you break free again.”

She wasn’t wrong. I’d been staring at his message for days now, wondering if I should reply. A part of me craved the familiar—the safety of the known, even if it came with pain. I chewed on my lower lip, staring at the phone in my hand. “What happens if I listen to you?” I asked, almost afraid of the answer.

“You move on,” my past self replied, her voice softening. “You heal. You find someone who treats you the way you deserve to be treated. Someone who doesn’t make you question your worth. But you can’t get there if you’re still holding onto him.”

I sucked in a shaky breath, trying to imagine a future where I wasn’t haunted by the ghost of my ex. Where I wasn’t second-guessing every decision because of him. “How do you know? How can you be so sure?”

“Because I’m you,” she said. “And I’ve lived through it. I know what happens if you stay. I know how it feels to be trapped in that cycle. I’m calling to give you the chance to break it before it breaks you.”

The words hung in the air, heavy with the weight of truth. I’d been down this road before. Each time, I told myself it would be different, that this time he’d really changed. And each time, I ended up right back where I started—heartbroken, exhausted, and wondering how I let myself fall for his charm again.

“I’m scared,” I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. “Of what happens next. Of being alone.”

“Being alone is better than being with someone who makes you feel lonely,” she said gently. “And you won’t be alone forever. You’ll find your way. But first, you need to let go.”

I closed my eyes, letting the words sink in. It wasn’t easy to hear, but I knew she was right. I knew I was right. This wasn’t just a warning from my past—it was a lifeline. A chance to change the course of my future.

“Okay,” I whispered. “Okay, I won’t go back.”

For a moment, there was only silence on the other end of the line. Then, she let out a small, relieved laugh. “Good. You’re stronger than you think. Don’t forget that.”

The call ended abruptly, the line going dead. I stared at the phone, still reeling from the conversation. A message from my past self? A time-traveling phone? It sounded impossible, but somehow, it had happened. And now, I had a choice.

I glanced at the text from my ex again, fingers hovering over the screen.

Then, with a deep breath, I deleted the message.

For the first time in a long time, I felt free.

September 13, 2024 18:44

You must sign up or log in to submit a comment.

21 comments

LC Reid
04:13 Sep 23, 2024

This was such a fascinating read! Haven't we all wished we could go back and tell ourselves not to answer a message?

Reply

Jax Wilder
02:31 Sep 24, 2024

A thousand percent! Thank you so much for reading 🥰

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Philip Alexander
14:32 Sep 22, 2024

Familiarity, even when it's toxic, can be comforting. How very true. Hard to break those cycles. Good job, Jax.

Reply

Jax Wilder
19:41 Sep 22, 2024

Thank you so much for reading Philip. It's true, sometimes we prefer the demon we know to the unknown. Regardless of how toxic it is. Breaking cycles of trauma is the center of this story.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Jim Parker
09:36 Sep 26, 2024

Good pacing and flow. Original take on the time travel concept. Wonderful. Enjoyed it. Jim

Reply

Show 0 replies
04:06 Sep 26, 2024

Great story! I definitely wish I had received a call from myself a time or two. Very relatable!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Dani Garcia
17:39 Sep 23, 2024

I loved your story! :)

Reply

Jax Wilder
02:31 Sep 24, 2024

Awe, thank you!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Karen Hope
03:44 Sep 23, 2024

I love how she slowly comes to realize that the younger version of her is right, even as she questions how this conversation is even happening. This is well written and flows beautifully.

Reply

Jax Wilder
02:32 Sep 24, 2024

Thank you so much for the kind words and for reading.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Darvico Ulmeli
09:23 Sep 22, 2024

Nice one. Just wondering how the past - he appeared and made contact by the phone? Is it a ghost or imagination? I expected to find out in the end..

Reply

Jax Wilder
19:40 Sep 22, 2024

Hey Darvico, Thanks for reading. I did have a couple of different somethings worked out with regards to the phone. But I realized explaining how they made contact was less important than the rest of the story. I'm more of a character driven author and knew if I let myself fall into the whys and hows, for me, it would pull away from the heart of her story.

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Sophie Fisher
18:21 Sep 21, 2024

Oh my gosh! Great job. Super amazing writing style, loved the suspense. Such a relatable topic. Keep writing!

Reply

Jax Wilder
19:37 Sep 22, 2024

Thank you so much Sophie. I think it's one a lot of people can relate too. <3

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Carol Stewart
16:29 Sep 21, 2024

A smooth read but I am left wondering why the younger self is so clued up. Would have liked a hint as to what sort of person N was before, how she handled things prior to this toxic relationship. Her assertiveness throughout the phone call tells me this in part, but another example would lift the piece from good to great. Also 'I've lived through it' made me think she couldn't be younger, although I realise she had to be for the prompt (a tricky one!).

Reply

Show 0 replies
Alexis Araneta
17:30 Sep 16, 2024

Once again, wonderful work, Jax. Such smooth writing here !

Reply

Jax Wilder
18:05 Sep 16, 2024

You're making me blush. Thank you so much for reading again. I enjoyed writing it so much!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Kristy Schnabel
14:45 Sep 16, 2024

Hi Jax, I *love* the premise of your story here. I toyed with doing this prompt, but couldn't figure out how to do it. Well done. Your story is so relatable. I didn't know how you would end the story, but it really works.

Reply

Jax Wilder
18:02 Sep 16, 2024

Awe thank you so much for reading! I really appreciate your kind words so much 🥰

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
Christina Miller
04:23 Sep 14, 2024

I really like your writing style. It flows well, is easy to read, and sucks people right in

Reply

Jax Wilder
05:39 Sep 14, 2024

Awe thank you so much, that warms my heart to hear 🥰 Thank you so much for reading!

Reply

Show 0 replies
Show 1 reply
RBE | Illustrated Short Stories | 2024-06

Bring your short stories to life

Fuse character, story, and conflict with tools in Reedsy Studio. 100% free.