It’s the first Wednesday Words of the year, and I’m really excited for this year’s list of prompts. May you enjoy them, too!
“You know I’m not supposed to be here,” my future self says as she checks out the flashing red and blue lights in the rearview mirror. Then she goes back to her reflection in the passenger mirror. I look good for 32. No wrinkles. No flabby stomach. Lots of muscles and the tips of tattoos poking out from her neckline. No visible stress.
Definitely more mature.
I’m sweating through my t-shirt as I pull over. “You said that last time, yet you’re back. Though not as helpful this time.” I can’t keep out the edge in my voice—I’m too focused on keeping panic at bay.
She always pops up when I need it most. To steer me away from an abusive boyfriend, to remind me to cite a paper so I don’t fail a class. To warn me away from my mother when she was on hard drugs and destroying the house.
But now, I don’t feel so helped as a cop approaches the car. It’s my mom’s, and I didn’t check to see if it was clean or not. Mistake on my part.
“You told me to speed, to hurry. That my cat was in danger.”
My future self nodded. “I’m doing this to save you.”
“Then why don’t I feel saved?”
“You don’t know what’s to come.” She fades away, returning to her time just as the cop arrives at my window, a dog at his heel.
My future self—my guiding star and my greatest betrayer.
For more enchanting Wednesday Words by other authors, check out the official Wednesday Words page!