Chapter 6

"Babe, I didn't know you wanted to tell everyone that.” Carter smiled; he lifted his hands to wipe out the tears rolling down Hailey’s eyes, but she flinched.

Completely gripped by fear. Wasn't she dead a few seconds ago?

Carter frowned, his lips curved down disappointedly. He had no idea what was going on in her head, just a moment ago she was smiling so hard.

“I brought you your favorite snack!” Iris' voice cut in with an exciting squeak. Hailey turned towards the sound of her voice; a sudden urge to jump on Iris clung at the back of her mind.

But she let out a small trembling smile, if anything, she needed to find out what was going on.

“I’m… I can’t… I…” Hailey stammered, her voice trembling. Her gaze darted around the cafeteria, the faces of her colleagues, Carter’s concerned eyes, and the familiar surroundings now seeming so strange.

Everyone was staring at her like there was something wrong with her.

Her heart pounded as she stood up, moving toward the wall where the calendar hung. It was a small thing, almost unnoticeable before, but now it was a way to figure out what was wrong.

She squinted at it, her breath caught in her throat.

October 10, 2018.

Her hands trembled as she traced the date. 7 years. This was 7 years ago.

“No… This isn’t possible,” she whispered under her breath, the cafeteria around her fading into a blur. Her pulse raced; her knees felt weak. “It can’t be…”

Carter’s voice reached her again, softer this time, trying to anchor her. “Hailey… Hey, look at me. You’re shaking. What’s wrong?”

She turned to him, her eyes wild with panic, searching for some kind of explanation, some rational thread to hold onto. “Carter… What year is this?”

He frowned in confusion, his brows knitting together confused. “It’s… It’s today, babe. October 10, 2018. Why?”

Her stomach dropped. “No. No, it… it was… I’m…” Her voice broke as tears welled up again.

Iris, standing a few feet away, placed the snack on a table, her expression growing uneasy. “Hailey, maybe you need a moment. Are you okay?” she asked softly.

Hailey turned towards Iris, seven years from now, she was going to be killed by that same concerned face, the same person she trusted, and then she slowly turned towards Carter, who was holding her protectively at her back.

She didn't know which of these was a dream. Was it her death or her being here?

She took a deep breath; by now all eyes were on her.

Hailey walked toward Mrs. Rose, her steps shaky but determined. “Mrs. Rose… I… I think I need to take the rest of the day off. I’m not feeling too well,” she said, forcing a calm voice.

Iris’s brow furrowed. “Hailey, I can walk you home….”

“No,” Hailey snapped, and everyone gasped. This was the first time her voice was raised at Iris; she noticed people were starting to whisper when she quickly turned towards Iris.

“I'm sorry… I’m just having a hard time; I need to be alone,” she said with a small smile.

Iris sighs. “You know I can never be mad at you,” she said with a sweet smile that if Hailey didn't know better, she would've fallen for.

Hailey didn’t reply. She turned on her heel and left the office.

Stepping outside, she froze. The city around her felt… different. Streets were a lot narrower, the buildings shorter, and the air lacked the polished vibrancy she remembered from seven years in the future.

Cars were older, fewer people walked hurriedly, and even the skyline looked… underdeveloped.

Her stomach formed a tight knot, this really was seven years ago.

She stood at the roadside, panic gnawing at her. Crap! she had left her bag, her card, and everything else inside the company—she was so clouded in thought she didn't bother about it.

The thought of going back made her stomach churn. Not yet. She needed to see something else, for now at least.

Her thoughts barely had time to spiral when a car slowed to a stop right in front of her. She jerked back, startled, her hand pressing against her chest.

Her eyes widened with shock the moment the car door opened, and a familiar face leaned casually from the window.

“Hailey? Is that really you?”

She blinked, taking in the grin she remembered from college days, Dan. Her heart skipped, a strange mix of recognition and disbelief flooding her.

It had been years since she’d seen him, and yet here he was, as if time itself had folded just to mock her.

Her lips pressed into a thin line, a frown tugging at the corner of her lips. A mixture of surprise and wariness nibbling at her. How much of this timeline could she trust? She pondered.

“You look like you need a ride.” Dan’s voice cut through her thoughts. “Come on, hop in,” he added, tilting his head to the passenger seat, while flashing her that easy, familiar grin.

Hailey hesitated, her heart beating loudly against her chest. What if Carter sees her… in another man’s car? Her chest tightened at the thought of it, but the sting of future memories flashed through her mind.

All the pain she had to endure sent shivers down her spine. But then, she forced herself to take a breath, reminding herself she was in the past, and she had knowledge no one else did. She could use this to her own advantage.

She had to.

Slowly, she nodded. “Okay… thanks, Dan.”

Her heart thumped wildly as she slid into the passenger seat, every sense on alert.

The world outside the windshield felt familiar yet fragile, like she was walking a tightrope between what had been and what could be.

And just right there, with her hand stuck outside the window, while feeling the cool breeze, she made a decision, she was going to use every opportunity she had been given back to the fullest.

She would live this life with no regrets!