Double Ring Paradox

Two-seventeen and the phone lit blue,

Whole room black, I could barely see through,

Looked at the screen and froze where I stood— Incoming call said

my number. Thought it was spoofed,

somebody fucking with us,

Answered laughing— Nobody laughed.

Just breathing.

Then a voice said:

“Listen.

We don't have much past.”

Same rasp, same words I use,

Same pause when I'm hiding the truth,

Then he said my name like he'd carried it years—

I stopped being clever when I

heard myself scared.

“What do you want?” “Nothing.”

“Then why did you call?”

“Tomorrow you'll get another one.”

“What happens if I answer?”

(shhh) “That's why I'm calling.”

TOMORROW CALLED ME TWICE!

First one told me not to pick up!

Said whatever rings tomorrow night—

LET THAT MOTHERFUCKER RING!

TOMORROW CALLED ME TWICE!

Same voice coming through!

First call sounded just like me— SECOND ONE SOUNDED LIKE YOU.

Next day felt wrong in invisible ways,

Clock lost a minute,

then repeated the same,

Six-forty-three, every streetlight died,

Six-forty-four, every one came alive.

Then my phone lit up.

My number again.

Every fucking instinct said—

ANSWER IT. Hand on the screen.

Then I remembered one thing:

Older me wasn't afraid of the call.

He was afraid I'd listen.

I let it ring.

It stopped. Then—

Didn't move.

Didn't breathe.

Didn't ask who was there.

Then something outside said: “Good.

You finally learned.” My voice.

But older.

Footsteps leave.

Phone lights up.

One new voicemail.

Timestamp:

Tomorrow,

2:17 A.M.

I press play.

Nothing but breathing.

Then—

“Now call yourself.”

TOMORROW CALLED ME TWICE!

Now I know why I picked up!

I wasn't getting warned about tomorrow— I WAS THE MOTHERFUCKING CALL!

TOMORROW CALLED ME TWICE!

Round and round the signal flew!

I spent all night running from the voice—

THAT HAD TO BECOME ME TO GET THROUGH!