A Promise Across Time [Completed]

Late Night Revelations

1963
Frida

I carefully laid the sleeping young girl on my bed. Exhaustion seemed to have overwhelmed her; she fell asleep soon after I fed her supper. Working at a bar a few blocks away from my apartment was challenging enough without having to care for a child, especially at night when the streets grew unsafe.

I left a note on the bedside table in case she woke and wondered where I'd gone. "I'll be back after midnight when the bar closes," I wrote, hoping it would reassure her.

As I reached for the bedroom door, a tiny voice filled the room, "Where are you going?"

Turning, I saw her sitting up, hair tousled, eyes still heavy with sleep.

"I have work tonight. You sleep, and I'll be here when you wake."

"Can I come with you?"

I hesitated. "No, it's not a place for young girls," I replied gently.

"But I don't want to be alone. Please?"

I sat beside her on the bed, brushing her hair back. "Listen, sweetheart. It's loud and crowded, not safe for you. I promise I'll be back soon."

"Why do you work there?"

Her question surprised me, a hint of wisdom in her innocent tone. "It's how I make a living."

"You should quit." She said, it didn't sound like an order but there a sense of wisdom in her statement and I was intrigued.

I chuckled softly. "And why's that?"

"Find Benny." She said seriously.

"Benny Andersson?" I recognized the name from the Hep Stars. I haven't met the man but I've heard he's very promising musician and their band is becoming quite famous lately.

"Yes. Find him," she insisted, her gaze intense. "It's important."

I couldn't help but smile at her earnestness. "Okay, why Benny?"

"It's... complicated. I can't explain everything, but trust me, it's crucial."

"Alright," I said, unsure how a musician from her past could affect anything in her future. "I'll think about it."

"Good." Raven settled back down. "Be safe. See you tomorrow."

Relief washed over me as I left for work.

***

"Frida! Där är du! Vad tog dig så lång tid?" Erik, my coworker, called out the moment I stepped into the dimly lit bar. His frustration was palpable, and he waved his arms dramatically as if the world was ending.

I hurried to the back, hanging my coat and adjusting the microphone stand on the small stage. The lights flickered slightly as the room filled with the soft buzz of anticipation. Late again, I thought, but tonight had been different. The strange girl, Raven, had thrown me off entirely.

"Sorry, Erik. Complications," I muttered, adjusting my dress in the mirror backstage. My thoughts lingered on Raven, the mysterious child now fast asleep in my bed. The future? Really? I shook my head to clear the strange thoughts.

"Complications, huh?" Erik crossed his arms, eyeing me. "The band's been restless. No singer, no show—and no pay, as you know."

I winced. "I'll fix it. Just give me a minute."

I stepped onto the stage, the weight of the night falling away for a brief moment as the familiar hush fell over the crowd. The dim lighting softened the edges of the room, making the patrons and their troubles blend into the shadows. This was my sanctuary, where everything else melted away. The world outside, the girl, the warnings—all of it would have to wait.

I leaned into the mic, a slow smile spreading across my lips as the band picked up the intro. My voice came out smooth, rich like velvet, gliding over the notes of an old jazz standard. I could feel the audience relax, their eyes fixed on me. This was where I belonged.

By the time I finished the first set, the room was fully alive. Glasses clinked, quiet conversations buzzed, and the smoky haze added a touch of nostalgia to the night.

As I made my way to the bar for a quick drink, Erik raised an eyebrow. "See? That wasn't so hard," he said, handing me a glass of water.

I gave him a tired smile. "Not tonight, Erik. It's been... strange."

He leaned in, curiosity piqued. "What's going on, Frida?"

I hesitated, then sighed. "There's a girl staying at my place. I found her just outside my home, and she... well, she says she's from the future."

Erik blinked, staring at me as if I'd lost my mind. "From the future? Seriously?"

"Yeah, I know how it sounds. But she knows things, Erik. Names, dates—she even told me I should quit singing here and go find Benny Andersson."

"Benny Andersson? From Hep Stars? What does he have to do with anything?"

"That's what I'm trying to figure out," I said, frustration creeping into my voice. "She was adamant, like meeting him was the most important thing I could do."

Erik shook his head in disbelief. "Frida, I think maybe you need to take a night off. All this singing and taking care of random kids—"

"It's not just that!" I interrupted. "There's something about her. Something different."

He studied me for a moment, then sighed. "Well, whatever it is, you're the star of this place. But if this girl is really from the future like she says, then... maybe you should find out what she knows. I'll handle things here for a while if you need to go on a wild goose chase for a musician."

I laughed lightly, though I could feel the tension in my chest. "You think I'm crazy."

"Not crazy. Just... unpredictable."

The second set was about to start. I stood up from the bar and made my way back to the stage, trying to push the conversation out of my head. But as I stood under the dim spotlight, microphone in hand, I couldn't help but wonder about Raven's words.

The music began, and I sang, the crowd swaying to the rhythm. But the weight of Raven's cryptic warning hung over me. Find Benny Andersson. Why him? And why now?

Later, as the bar began to wind down and the patrons filtered out, I packed up my things, glancing at the clock. Midnight was approaching, and Raven might wake up and find me not yet home.

Erik gave me a long look as he wiped down the counter. "So, what's the plan? You going to hunt down Benny Andersson tomorrow?"

I laughed softly, though my nerves were frayed. "I don't know. I don't even know where to start. I mean, why would I even consider doing something that a ten-year old kid suggested."

"You've got that look in your eye. The one that says you're about to do something insane."

I smiled. "Maybe I am."

As I walked out of the bar into the crisp night air, I couldn't help but look up at the stars, my breath catching in the cold. The quiet streets were a far cry from the smoky warmth of the bar, but I could feel something stirring—something bigger than me.

Maybe Raven was right. Maybe my path really was about to change.

But heavens, what would I say to Benny Andersson when I meet him?

*****