The Call

2:13

The first ring started Luke awake, jolting up right with his heart pounding as the second ring came through. Bleary-eyed, he glanced at the clock. 2:13 AM. “Who would call at this hour?” Luke groaned under his breath as he reached for his phone that lay beside him on his nightstand charging. 

”Hello?” Luke answered without checking the caller ID. 

The caller with no hesitation avowed, “Luke, listen carefully. This is you. From the future.” 

Luke blinked, swinging his legs off the side of his bed and ran his hand through his thick brown hair. 

“What kind of joke is this?”

”I don’t have time to explain everything, but you need to trust me. Tomorrow, you’re going to be offered a deal, a job that seems too good to be true. Don’t take it. No matter what.”

Luke laughed nervously, “Okay sure, future me. I’m hanging up now.” Luke begins to pull the phone from his ear when the voice on the other end frantically says, “That deal will ruin everything you’ll lose her!” 

“Lose who?” Luke slowly replies confused. 

“Monica,” the voice said quietly. 

Luke froze. Monica was his ex-fiancée, the one he can’t stop thinking about. The one who got away. The one who makes his heart beat slower and faster at the same time. The one he yearns for a second chance. 

They broke up six months ago after a fight about his career ambitions. This caused a huge rift and he wasn’t strong enough to choose what he truly desired. To go back in time would he have chosen differently? Maybe not leave so many broken promises and make time for his other half.

That’s all in the past and now all he has left is his career. There’s no turning back. 

“How do you know about her?” Luke demanded.

”Because I’m you!” The voice snapped. “And I know you still regret what happened. I know you’d do anything to fix it. But taking the deal will only push her further away. I know you still grasp for hope that in the future you two can be happy and live that future you dreamed of.”

The line crackled, and the voice grew more frantic, ”Promise me. Luke, do not take the job.” 

Before Luke could collect his thoughts to respond, the call disconnected. 

8:05

A fresh pot of coffee always secures a better morning. Luke struggled sleeping the rest of the night, his mind racing with questions. Who was on the other end of the call? How did they know about Monica? And what would happen if he accepted the job? 

Luke decided that he needed answers. He pulled out his phone, 8:05AM and called his phone carrier to trace the number from his late-night call. 

“I’m sorry,” the operator said, “there are no outgoing or incoming calls near that time.”

Luke’s stomach dropped. This had to be a prank… or worse, his mind playing tricks on him.

”Thank you, take care.” 

“Thank you for calling, have a great day.” The line cut out. 

Luke couldn’t shake away that something greater was at large. 

3:47

Luke dismissed the call as a vivid dream or maybe a cruel prank, but as the day unfolded his unease grew. 

“You don’t look too swell, do you need a cup of coffee to wind you back up?” Julia asks Luke, sneaking up behind him. Julia is one of his coworkers at the office. She’s been there for him during this hard time, no romantic feelings are between the two, but they are good friends. 

“If you don’t mind, I didn’t sleep too well last night ,” Luke answered. 

“I figured,” Julia raises her hand up holding a fresh cup of coffee.

”Thank you, I needed a pick me up.” 

“Of course, take care of yourself. I got to go back to my desk,” Julia says while stepping away.

At 3:47 PM Lukes’ boss called him into the office.

”Luke, there’s an opportunity for you,” his boss said, sliding a vanilla folder across his desk. “It’s a transfer to our London branch. Better pay, prestigious title. You’d leave next week.”

Luke's heart began to race. It was the exact break he’d been waiting for. 

The voice from the call last night rang in his mind echoing Don’t take the job. 

“Can I think about it,” he asked.

”Of course, let me know by tomorrow.” His boss nodded. 

8:53

8:53 PM that night, Luke sat in his apartment, staring at the folder lying on his wooden coffee table. His dedicated work, his dreams, his goals, his future all lies right in front of him. Just a simple yes and everything Luke worked hard for and sacrificed will all be worth it. This was the point in his career where he felt suited enough to take care of her, but he pushed her away before this chapter in life.

The voice haunted him. You’ll lose her. 

“As if I didn’t already,” Luke mumbles to himself while pulling out his phone from his front right pant pocket. Luke doesn’t know what went over him but he began scrolling through photos he has yet to delete of them from his album. 

One picture caught his attention, Monica’s birthday last year. She was laughing, her eyes had this life in them. A glistening sparkle. He had been too busy answering work emails that night to notice how distant she seemed. 

Luke sighed and set his phone down.

”This is ridiculous,” he sighs.

2:13

Luke went to bed, still undecided. Deep down he knows he wants this opportunity on the other hand, what if the voice on the phone had some truth, but if he just imagined this whole ordeal then taking the job is what he’s going to do. 

Ring. Ring. Ring.

2:13AM Luke was getting a call. This time he checked to see the caller ID, unknown. This sent chills down his spine. Luke hesitated to answer. 

“Hello?” Luke answered.

The voice was much calmer this time than before.

”You made the right choice,” The voice said.

Luke frowned while laying down in bed still, “I haven’t decided yet.”

There was a pause, then a low chuckle, “Oh, but you will.”

Luke’s breath hitched, “Who is this? Are you really me?” 

“Now what kind of question is that,” the voice replies slowly.

”A question anyone would ask in my situation!” Luke's voice rises. 

“Just decline the offer or you will regret it!” The voice hissed. 

“I don’t care, I’m taking the offer. I already lost her!” He yells.

…

”Luke! How dare you take that opportunity from me!” The voice bellowed. The line goes dead. Luke sat there, his chest heaving with anxiety and fear.  

“I wasn’t expecting that,” he whispered.