Chapter 12 #2
There was a long pause before her reply came through:
"Holy shit. It is you.”
He stared at the screen, his heart pounding. She believed him. This was actually happening.
"Okay, Mad-hatterson, you've got my attention," Brianna's message continued. "But I still don't understand how this is possible. Are you sure you're not having some kind of mental breakdown?"
Chad chuckled nervously. "Trust me, I've considered that possibility. But this feels too real. Tell me something about the future, Bri. Anything."
There was a long pause before her reply came through:
"I don't know if I should. What if I tell you something and it changes everything? Haven't you seen Back to the Future?"
He rolled his eyes. "Come on, Bri. Just one little thing. It doesn't have to be earth-shattering."
Another pause, then: "Fine. But don't blame me if the space-time continuum unravels. In 2029, they finally perfected birth control. It's 100% effective and doesn’t require surgery or abstinence. Happy now?"
He sat back, digesting this information. It wasn't exactly world-changing, but it was something that would solve a lot of problems. "Thanks, Bri. That's pretty cool—especially for guys like me who do want sex, but don’t want kids. Any other technological breakthroughs I should know about?"
"I'm not your personal crystal ball. Besides, don't you have papers to grade or something?"
He glanced guiltily at the stack of essays on his desk. "How did you know?"
"Because you told me about your hangover after getting some shocking news three years ago. Some things never change, even in the future."
He laughed, feeling a strange mix of comfort and unease at her words. "So, about that funeral..."
"Nope. Not going there. You'll find out when you're supposed to. Now, I really do have to go. Planning a funeral is time-consuming, even in 2029. Take care, Chad. And maybe ease up on the late nights and whiskey, huh?"
He stared at the screen, a lump forming in his throat. How did she know about last night? Before he could respond, another message popped up:
"Oh, and Chad? When the time comes, don't forget to say yes. Trust me on this one."
With that cryptic message, the connection seemed to break. He furiously typed replies, but they all bounced back. Whatever window had opened between their times had closed.
He leaned back in his chair, his mind reeling. What did she mean by 'say yes'? Yes, to what?
A knock at his office door jolted him back to the present. "Come in," he called, quickly minimizing his email window.
The door creaked open, and in walked Dr. Eliza Thornton, head of the English department. Her silver hair was pulled back in its usual severe bun, and her piercing blue eyes fixed on him with an intensity that always made him feel like an unprepared undergrad.
"Chad," she said, her voice clipped. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
He glanced at his computer screen, now showing a half-filled-out spreadsheet of essay grades. "No, not at all. What can I do for you, Dr. Thornton?"
She stepped further into his office, her eyes scanning the cluttered space. "I have a proposition for you. One that could significantly impact your career."
His heart rate picked up. Was this what Brianna had been referring to? The thing he was supposed to say 'yes' to?
"I'm listening," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.
Dr. Thornton cleared her throat. "As you know, Professor Emerson is retiring at the end of this semester. We've been searching for someone to take over his advanced creative writing seminar."
Chad nodded, unsure where this was going. Emerson's seminar was legendary, a launching pad for numerous successful authors over the years.
"The department has been impressed with your work, Chad. Your publications and your rapport with students. We'd like to offer you the position."
He blinked, stunned. This was totally unexpected. “But I don’t have the contacts Professor Emerson has. He’s even close personal friends with Stephen King!”
“He thought you might be worried about that. He said he’s more than willing to mentor you, including some introductions to his networking contacts.”
Chad gulped. The word ‘Mentor’ was stuck in his mind, and this just brought it to the forefront. Could Professor Emerson be the mentor future Bri was referring to?
He stared at Dr. Thornton, his mind racing. This had to be it… the opportunity Brianna had hinted at. But was he ready for such a responsibility? Professor Emerson's shoes were impossibly difficult to fill.
"I— I'm honored," he stammered. "But are you sure I'm the right person for this?"
Dr. Thornton's stern expression softened slightly. "Professor Emerson specifically recommended you, Chad. He believes in your potential."
The words hit him like a punch to the gut. Emerson, the literary giant, thought he had potential? And he wanted to mentor him? It was almost too much to process.
"I understand this is a big decision," Dr. Thornton continued. "You don't have to answer right away. Take some time to think it over."
Chad nodded, still dazed. "Thank you. I appreciate that. How long do I have to decide?"
"Let's say by the end of next week," Dr. Thornton replied. "We'll need time to make other arrangements if you decline."
As she turned to leave, a thought struck him. "Dr. Thornton, wait. I don't need time. My answer is yes."
She raised an eyebrow. "Are you certain? This isn't a decision to be made lightly."
Chad thought of Brianna's cryptic message from the future. "I'm sure. It feels right."
A rare smile crossed Dr. Thornton's face. "Excellent. I'll inform Professor Emerson. He'll be in touch with you about mentoring arrangements."
After she’d left, Chad sat back in his chair, his head spinning. Had he just altered his future? Or had he simply fulfilled it? The lines between fate and free will were becoming increasingly blurred.
He turned back to his computer, brought up his email, half-expecting to see another message from future Brianna. The screen remained stubbornly blank. Whatever connection they'd had seemed to be severed, at least for now.
With a sigh, he returned to grading papers, but his mind kept wandering. What would this new position mean for his career? For his life? And what about Professor Emerson? If he was indeed the mentor Brianna had mentioned, what would happen to him in the coming years?
The rest of the day passed in a blur. Chad went through the motions of teaching classes, but his thoughts were elsewhere. By the time he got home that evening, he was mentally exhausted.