The pocket watch was brass with intricate ingravings all along the front and back. It's the type you'd expect to see in some old billionaire's pocket while he counts his cash. Except, instead of being in the pocket of a billionaire, it's in the hands of someone in a one-room apartment who works at Walmart.
You turn the watch in your hands, quite carelessly. It's been passed down in your family for generations; from your grandmother, to your mother, to you. You'd known about the watch's existence because of your mother, who hid it from sight. Luckily, you were a very sneaky kid.
Once you found it, she explained its power, but made you promise to never, ever touch it. At the time, being eight years old, you believed her. But as an adult, it was probably just a way to make you behave. She said its power only works with people in the same bloodline as her family.
She had passed away a few months ago. In some strange turn of events, your father had gone off the deep end and brutally beat your mother to death, before drowning himself.
You never knew your father was so horrible. You knew he was a drunk, a pitiful excuse of a human being, but you never thought he'd resort to this.
Most of her belongings had been sold, but you had the opportunity to retrieve what you wanted. The watch was among these items.
You open the brass front of the watch. The face is split into two different parts: There's the part of the watch that tells the time, and a part that tells the date.
The hands are currently still, set at some time and date lost to the past. It doesn't appear to be opperating.
[[Fix the time]]
[[Close the brass front]]
You fix the watch to the current time and date. The hands still don't move, and you wonder if it has something to do with the
battery.
Closing the brass lid, you set the watch aside.
[[Make Some Coffee]]
You close the brass front of the watch and set it aside. You can mess with it later. Right now, it's less than an hour that you have to be at work. You're not even dressed yet. You have to get moving if you don't want to be late.
[[Make Coffee]]
You wander to the kitchen and turn on the coffee pot. While you're at it, you put some toast in the toaster.
Now you wait.
...
...
...
Pop! The toaser's done. And your coffee's finished brewing. You fill a mug and spread some peanut butter on your toast, then wander to the couch to enjoy.
The watch is still on the coffee table where you left it. There's something entrancing about it. The engravings on the brass are intricate and twist into one another, spinning infinitely around the whole object.
Oh look, you've finished your breakfast.
[[Take a Shower]]
You head to the bathroom and shower. A quick glance at the time tells you you have a half hour to get ready.
The water is warm, but you can't stand in it forever. Upon getting out, you decide on your everyday outfit; jeans and a t-shirt, and if it's particularly cold, a sweatshirt. Just to spice it up.
For today, it's a chilly morning, so you throw on a sweatshirt with a faded logo. You're not sure what it was originally, but it's cozy, so you don't care.
[[Time to Leave]]
You head to the door, but pause as you put your hand on the knob. One last look around the room, you hurry over to the coffee table, pick up the watch, and set it in your pocket. You feel you should take it with you today.
[[Go to Work]]
You wander to the kitchen and turn on the coffee pot. While you're at it, you put some toast in the toaster.
Now you wait.
...
...
...
Pop! The toaser's done. And your coffee's finished brewing. You fill a mug and spread some peanut butter on your toast, then wander to the couch to enjoy.
The watch is still on the coffee table where you left it. There's something entrancing about it. The engravings on the brass are intricate and twist into one another, spinning infinitely around the whole object.
Oh look, you've finished your breakfast.
[[Now Shower]]
You head to the bathroom and shower. A quick glance at the time tells you you have a half hour to get ready.
The water is warm, but you can't stand in it forever. Upon getting out, you decide on your everyday outfit; jeans and a t-shirt, and if it's particularly cold, a sweatshirt. Just to spice it up.
For today, it's a chilly morning, so you throw on a sweatshirt with a faded logo. You're not sure what it was originally, but it's cozy, so you don't care.
[[Time to Go]]
You head to the door, but pause as you put your hand on the knob. One last look around the room, you hurry over to the coffee table, pick up the watch, and set it in your pocket. You feel you should take it with you today.
[[Now Go To Work]]
You go to work. You're a cashier at Walmart and it's a pain being in customer service. You hate it.
Your cute coworker, Avery Youth from the cash register over, talks to you in between customers. She's beautiful, and funny, and charming, and your crush isn't much of a crush anymore.
She deals with difficult customers with an easy smile and unlimited patience. When they finally leave, she immediately deflates and rolls her eyes at you, and you laugh.
At lunch, you go to the McDonald's across the street as Avery stays and manages the store. You think about offering to get her something, but your nerves get the better of you and you decide not to.
While you're waiting for your order, you take the watch from your pocket. There's a little button at the top that you haven't noticed. You thought it was something to attach a chain to.
The watch was still set to a seemingly random time and date. You wonder if the button will start the watch.
[[Press It]]
You go to work. You're a cashier at Walmart and it's a pain being in customer service. You hate it.
Your cute coworker, Avery Youth from the cash register over, talks to you in between customers. She's beautiful, and funny, and charming, and your crush isn't much of a crush anymore.
She deals with difficult customers with an easy smile and unlimited patience. When they finally leave, she immediately deflates and rolls her eyes at you, and you laugh.
At lunch, you go to the McDonald's across the street as Avery stays and manages the store. You think about offering to get her something, but your nerves get the better of you and you decide not to.
As you wait for your order, you take out the watch. It's still set to the time from this morning. You notice a button that you didn't see before, at the very top of the watch.
[[Press the Button]]
You press the button.
The hands don't move. Disappointed, you begin to pocket to watch only to realize - nothing else is moving, either.
The cashier holds a hand out as a customer, frozen in place, has their hand out with cash. The soda fountain stream still as a person fills up a cup. A fry frozen mid-air as a child drops it on the floor.
Then, very slowly, they move again. Not continuing their movement, you soon realize; but reversing it. The customer with the cash reeling back and folding it back in their wallet. The soda fountain reversing its stream back into the machine, sucking the soda out of the cup. The fry coming back into the child's hand.
The reversal starts out slow, then picks up speed; it's so fast it all blurs together. You can't make out a single shape as it's all just a mixture of colors, and you close your eyes to avoid feeling dizzy. You feel your feet sway.
Then it stops.
[[Open Your Eyes]]
You open your eyes. It's dark, is your first thought. But your head is on a pillow. An alarm clock glares in your face.
It's 3:45 am.
You stand up and look around the room. It's your apartment.
What happened? You were standing in McDonald's a moment ago. Was the stories your mom told you true?
You feel your pocket. The watch is still there.
You pick up your phone and stop as you see the date. It's the same date on the watch. It's always sounded familiar, and now you connect it.
It's the day when your parents died. When your mother was murdered.
Without a second thought, you bolt out of your apartment. Your car is waiting for you.
[[Go to your parent's house]]
Your car doesn't seem fast enough. It seems like an eternity before you pulled into their driveway - it was actually five minutes.
The lights are on and you hear something muffled from inside. You step up the porch to the front door, and something thuds against the wall.
You knock. There's still muffled speech from inside. You knock harder. No one comes to the door.
[[Kick the Door Down]]
[[Find another way Inside]]
You raise a foot to kick. It's a lot harder than it seems in the movies. You kick again, and again, but the door won't budge and your foot is starting to hurt.
[[Find another way Inside]]
You walk around the side of the house and find the open window leading into the bathroom. You crawl through - just barely, but you make it.
There's clear yelling now. A crash of something. You hear your mother's voice - you haven't heard her voice in months. It helps you keep going.
On your knees, you crawl from the bathroom deeper into the house. You start to hear a conversation.
*I can't believe I married you. You can't do anything right.*
Your father's voice. His slurred words are evidence of his drunkeness. God, if only you knew about this problem sooner...
*You're drunk, dear. Go to bed. Please.*
Your mother. She sounded tired. How long has she put up with him?
*You don't tell me what to do. I don't want to listen to you anymore. Get out.*
*Dear--*
*I said GET OUT!*
Something shattered. You hear your mother scream. Turning a corner into the living room, you see your father towering over your mother, a broken bottle in one hand.
Glass littered the floor. A shard was particularly close to you.
[[Pick up the Shard]]
[[Go in with your Fists]]
You pick up the shard, and the sharp glass cuts into your palm. You don't care, and let the blood drip onto the floor as you sneak up behind your father.
Your mother spots you first. She gasps and cries your name, begging you to leave. Your father turns around and sees you, and the shard in your hand.
*Were you going to fight me? You're too weak, stupid kid.*
He goes to swing at you. You duck and swing your own weapon, cutting him across the cheek.
He hisses and rams into you. His shoulder hits you in the chin and his heavy weight knocks you to the floor. The shard falls from your hand.
He picks up a stool and holds it above his head.
[[Roll Away]]
[[Cover your Head]]
You flex your fists and sneak up behind your father.
Your mother spots you first. She gasps and cries your name, begging you to leave. Your father turns around and sees you.
*Were you going to fight me? You're too weak, stupid kid.*
He goes to swing at you. You dodge, but the bottle tears your shirt, digs into your shoulder. Blood drips down your arm. You reel your fist back and swing with all your might.
Your fist lands directly into his cheek. He grunts in surprise, then huffs, enraged.
He rams into you. His shoulder hits you in the chin and his heavy weight knocks you to the floor. Your torn shoulder sends shivers of pain up and down your arm.
He picks up a stool and holds it above his head, glaring down at you.
[[Roll Away]]
[[Cover your Head]]
You roll out of dodge. The stool swings down and clatters against the floor, the wooden legs breaking off in the impact. Your father seems to growl.
*Oh god, where is it? Where is it?*
Your mother is frantically searching her pockets for something. You think you know what it is. But really, it was the least of your concern right now.
Your father has one of the legs of the broken stool in his hand. He holds it like a baseball bat as he saunters over to you, swaying slighly. He puts a booted foot on your chest to keep you from moving.
*Stupid kid. Should'a stayed outta this.*
He raises it above his head.
[[Brace for Impact]]
[[Grab his Leg]]
You turn on your side and cover your head with your arms. The stool hits your back and you cry out in pain.
*Oh god, where is it? Where is it?*
Your mother is frantically searching her pockets for something. You think you know what it is. But really, it was the least of your concern right now.
Your father has one of the legs of the broken stool in his hand. He holds it like a baseball bat as he saunters over to you, swaying slighly. He puts a booted foot on your chest to keep you from moving.
*Stupid kid. Should'a stayed outta this.*
He raises it above his head.
[[Brace for Impact]]
[[Grab his Leg]]
You cover your head with your arms. You feel the wooden leg hit your forearm, and it hurts, but at least it's not your head.
You hear your mother scream and suddenly the boot on your chest is gone. You sit up to see your mother on your father's back, clawing at his face in desperation. The stool leg falls from your father's hand.
You take the opportunity. Getting to your feet, you...
[[Kick him in the Balls]]
[[Pick up the Stool Leg]]
You grab his pant leg and pull. His boot stays where it is, planted firmly on your chest.
Your father swings the stool leg. It hits the side of your head and you feel a splitting pain. Your vision is blurry.
He swings again. Your head is bleeding. You feel it streaming down your face.
He swings again. And again. And again. You can't think coherently.
The last thing you hear is your mother crying out for you.
*END*
*YOU DIED*
You run up and kick him in the balls. He falls to his knees and cries out in pain. It feels good.
[[Pick up the Stool Leg]]
You pick up the stool leg and swing. It hits your father in the face and he grunts.
Your mother crawls away and looks away.
You swing again, and your father falls to his side. He tries to sit back up, groaning, and you hit him once more. He's out cold, but he's still breathing.
[[Go to your Mother]]
[[Swing Again]]
You drop the stool leg and go to your mother. She has her arms outstretched towards you. You fall into them.
She holds you close as her tears fall. She brushes your hair and you let her. You're glad to have her back.
You reach into your pocket and pull out the watch. You hand it to her, and she stares at it with wonder, then to you. You don't need to explain. She kisses your forehead. You close your eyes and lean on her shoulder.
*END*
*YOU SAVED YOUR MOTHER*
You hit him again. And again. Blood spills from his cracked skull. You hope he drowns in it. His chest stops moving.
*That's enough, dear.*
[[Go to your Mother]]
You press the button.
The hands don't move. Disappointed, you begin to pocket to watch only to realize - nothing else is moving, either.
The cashier holds a hand out as a customer, frozen in place, has their hand out with cash. The soda fountain stream still as a person fills up a cup. A fry frozen mid-air as a child drops it on the floor.
Then, very slowly, they move again. Not continuing their movement, you soon realize; but reversing it. The customer with the cash reeling back and folding it back in their wallet. The soda fountain reversing its stream back into the machine, sucking the soda out of the cup. The fry coming back into the child's hand.
The reversal starts out slow, then picks up speed; it's so fast it all blurs together. You can't make out a single shape as it's all just a mixture of colors, and you close your eyes to avoid feeling dizzy. You feel your feet sway.
Then it stops.
[[Look Around]]
You open your eyes. You're siting on your apartment couch. You look at the time on your phone; you have less than an hour to get ready for work.
It's the same day. Only it's the morning again.
The stories your mother told you were true.
[[Get Ready for Work]]
You repeat the process you went through this morning. You feel deja vu.
Your coworker, Avery Youth, is there again. You watch as she repeats the same words she already said. The same polite smile; the same eyeroll. The same laugh. You predict what she says.
When it comes to your lunch break (again) you stop before you leave.
[[Offer to Get Avery Something]]
She smiles and says thank you. Her smile sends your heart thumping.
This time, in line waiting for your order, you don't press the button. You get her order and hurry back, and her face brightens.
*Thanks! I'll pay you back when I get my paycheck, promise! Just remind me, I'm terribly forgetful.*
Her laugh and smile and her whole being makes your heart soar.
When your shift is over, her's is over as well. She walks up to you and you two walk together as you leave. She says she's going to take the bus home.
[[Go Home]]
[[Ask to Give her a Ride]]
You offer her a ride. She looks surprised, but smiles gratefully and says yes.
She directs you to her home, a small dingy aparment, not much different from yours. She tells jokes the whole time there and you can't stop laughing. She's so *cute*.
She gathers her purse before she begins to exit your car, wishing you a goodnight.
[[Ask her out]]
[[Go Home]]
You can't just be so forward! She'd be so creeped out by you, she'll avoid you forever! Going home is the best option.
You tell her goodbye and she says the same, before you go to your car and her to the bus stop.
You go home and immediately lay down in bed. The watch in your pocket falls to the floor and rolls under your bed, soon to be forgotten.
*END*
*YOUR NERVES WERE TOO MUCH*
Before she leaves, you tug her sleeve gently. You ask if she'd like to go out sometime.
She smiles.
*Of course! This weekend?*
You two set up a date and then go on your merry way. She seems to have a skip in her step as she walks up to her front door. You feel lighter, happier.
You sleep well that night.
*END*
*YOU ASKED OUT YOUR CRUSH*