Just Visiting

Written by Anakin McFly

“We named him after you,” they say, with smiles, and he’s the only one who knows the truth, the only one who sees the irony, and his mouth curves upwards in a brief smile.

It’s a strange sensation, looking into his own eyes. From the way the child starts, he can tell that the feeling is mutual. His younger self regards him with a glance almost fearful; but there is curiosity there also, suspicion of this stranger he just met with whom he somehow feels a… connection.

“Hi, Marty,” he greets, still playing the part of just an old schoolmate of his parents. “It’s nice to meet you.”

A polite handshake, his fingers closing around the small hand. Past and future make contact, old and new, thirty years rendered nothing as they touch. His eyes speak silently of time travel, DeLoreans, an old scientist named Emmett; and for a moment, vague understanding crosses the face of the six-year-old boy, and recognition flickers just briefly –

“Ah, I’d better be going now,” he says, breaking eye contact, severing the link. “I’m, uh, supposed to be meeting someone.”

He lies. But he has to go, that’s true. Can’t risk changing history and all that. He’s gone before they have the chance to ask for addresses and telephone numbers, and it’s just the child staring after him, and he wonders when he’ll remember this little visit back –

Then the ripple comes, and he remembers.

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