The Phone Call That Unraveled My Life

an (19), her mind reeling. *My leg...* He

thing. The connection was dead

one rang. It was Mrs. Miller,

accident! He fell down the stairs at

the past. Ethan (32) breaks his leg in the present. The

than (32) to exist, even injured. Th

ast, propped on a pillow. Jessica was by his side, dabbing his forehead wit

her voice dripping with false sweetness.

eyes narrowed. "Took you long en

ed him. "Ho

tered, informed them. "He'll be on crutches

"I'll take care of you, darling

sence was clearly an intrusion on their t

k you're going?" E

d. "You seem to b

ying the old phone. Nothing. The si

grumbling and irritable on his crutches

me this. Sar

d gone, he confronted her. "You didn't

rect consequence of his younger self's pain. "Wer

d. "That's

o prioritize Jessica's every sn

ortably on the so

I did

ang. Sarah glanced at

humorless smile on her face. "She pr

he phone, his voice instantly sof

ng on the coffee table where she'd left it after another failed at

the phone with Jessica, noticed the light. His

the old phone despite his cast. He snatched it

is face a mask of fury

alive. Did... did it work? Is he hurt? Is 32-year-old me feel

rah, his expression a mixture of disbelief

imself, to his past