Back to You

Blast to the Past

Was I alive?

Felt like it because I was hearing myself think. My eyes were closed though. I must've been just sleeping then.

It seemed like I was laying on something soft, plushy, and almost like a pillow wrapped in a cozy warm blanket too. I think I was back on the couch...or the bed. 

The memory of anything that had to happen minutes before my tumble were cloudy—except for the fact my Dad's time machine elixir was nothing but a bust, of course. 

My whole body slightly still ached. Accompanied by the strange feeling I somehow felt so many pounds lighter. About to flutter my eyes open, my nose began twitching, taking in a scent I knew for sure wasn't a good sign for anything.

Smoke?

Immediately, the shrill of the detectors went off obnoxiously as my fluttered eyes became bolting wide open, realizing that it was all true.

The entire place was smoking throughout. Oh my, god!

Did I cook something and just forgot to turn it off?! Did I leave a candle out in the open without distinguishing it?! Was my apartment about to engulf in flames and I was going down with it?!

Jolting out of my position—not even acknowledging the floor that pressed my feet against a plushy texture, I still couldn't make out hardly anything else around. Trying my best not to scream like a banshee to no one, I searched for the fire extinguisher that I usually kept by the front door.

Yet for some reason, as I ran over to the entrance way seeing somewhat of a white front door in my vision...it wasn't there anymore.

"Aww, man!" I exclaimed.

"It's okay! Nobody move! I got it!" I suddenly heard what sounded like my father's voice cry out.

Within seconds, the white substance of the extinguisher released out over to an area away from where I was still standing, and the room became fortunately clearer. 

Noticing the first thing I could see again was exactly what I had thought. The man himself was in front of me, casually putting out whatever was lighting up.

"See, it's fixed now ladybug! No worries. Sorry about that. I was trying to run a few tests on some new products in the kitchen. Turns out, the kitchen didn't like that idea as much as I did." He shyly said.

I looked to him a bit baffled shaking my head, not wanting to shrug my wondering mind off.

He appeared different in a way. The same hair color and facial expressions I knew all too well, yes. Just...more younger?

"Dad?! What are you doing here? How did you get into my house so late...or early?!" To be honest, I didn't know what time of day it was anymore either.

Visably amused, he put the can down. "Well excuse me, little missy—considering your old man still does pay the mortgage, the bills, and the food most of the time while raising his teenage daughter singlehandedly, I think technically this is my house as well."

"Teenage?" I reiterated just to make sure I heard him accurately, but still wildly confused.

"Whoops! My bad. I forgot we're in the whole 'in three years I'll be a legal adult' phase in life, so labels like that are kinda sensitive to you girls. What I meant to say is a young woman." He kindly corrected.

Staring further mystified, I began shaking my head to myself, feeling like I just entered the Twilight Zone. Was he still talking about me here?

"Huh?" I asked myself before it all started to click.