Echoes of Time

Chapter 16 - Shadows of the Past

It was just another day at the diner—or so it seemed. The sun poured through the wide windows, casting a golden glow over the checkered floor, and the soft hum of conversation filled the room. The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the aroma of frying bacon and pancakes sizzling on the griddle. It was a comforting routine, something that usually grounded Adeline amidst the chaos of her own thoughts. But today, something felt off.

Adeline stood behind the counter, her fingers absently tapping the edge as she stared at the familiar scene in front of her. Debbie was wiping down tables with her usual cheerfulness, her lips curled into an easy smile as she greeted the regulars by name. Everything seemed so... normal. And yet, there was a tightness in Adeline's chest that she couldn't explain.

Déjà vu.

She had felt it before, in small bursts, fleeting moments that made her pause and wonder if she had dreamt the same thing the night before. But this was different. This time, it was all-consuming, like she had lived this entire moment before.

Her gaze shifted to the elderly man sitting by the window, the one who always ordered the same black coffee and blueberry muffin. He was reading the same newspaper, in the same spot, as he had done just two days ago. Next, her eyes fell on the young couple in the corner booth, giggling over a shared milkshake, just as they had the week before.

The air in the diner felt thick, as if time itself had slowed down, and Adeline's stomach churned with unease.

"Adeline? You good?" Debbie's voice broke through her thoughts.

Startled, Adeline blinked and turned to face her friend. Debbie's eyebrows were furrowed in concern, and her hand rested on her hip in that familiar way she did when she knew something was wrong.

"Yeah, I'm... I'm fine," Adeline stammered, though the knot in her stomach tightened.

Debbie narrowed her eyes, not buying it for a second. "You don't look fine. You've been zoning out for like, the past five minutes."

Adeline opened her mouth to reply, but the words caught in her throat. Instead, she found herself glancing back at the elderly man by the window. "Debbie," she began slowly, her voice shaky, "have we... have we had this conversation before?"

Debbie blinked, then laughed, though there was confusion in her eyes. "Uh, no? Why would we? I mean, unless you've been time traveling, or something."

Adeline's heart skipped a beat at the mention of time travel, and she quickly forced a smile. "No, I just... I feel like I've done all of this before. Like, exactly this."

Debbie's smile faded, replaced by genuine concern. "You okay, Addie? You're not having one of your 'weird' moments again, are you?" She glanced over her shoulder at the diner's customers, as if checking to see if anyone else had noticed.

Adeline tried to laugh it off, but the weight in her chest wouldn't lift. "It's just... that man," she gestured toward the elderly customer. "Didn't he order the same thing yesterday? The black coffee, the muffin, the newspaper...?"

Debbie followed her gaze and shrugged. "Yeah, but he always orders that. He's a regular. You know that."

"I know, but..." Adeline trailed off, her eyes darting to the young couple again. "And them. They ordered the same milkshake. They're sitting in the exact same spot. Even the way they're laughing... it's like a repeat."

Debbie gave her a strange look, her brow furrowed in confusion. "Adeline, they were just here last night. I mean, maybe you're just remembering it because you've seen it before, but I don't think it's anything weird. They're regulars too."

Adeline shook her head, frustration bubbling beneath the surface. "No, it's not just that. It's... everything feels the same. Every detail. It's like I'm living the same day over and over again."

Debbie frowned, her expression softening with concern. "Addie, you've been working a lot lately. Maybe you're just tired? I can finish the shift if you need a break. Go outside, get some air."

Adeline hesitated, but the growing sense of dread gnawing at her insides won out. "Maybe you're right," she muttered, more to herself than to Debbie. "I just need to clear my head."

Debbie smiled reassuringly. "Go. I got this."

Adeline gave her a weak nod before turning on her heel and making her way toward the back door. The cool evening air hit her as soon as she stepped outside, but instead of soothing her, it only intensified the strange sensation swirling in her mind.

She paced the small alley behind the diner, her arms wrapped tightly around herself as if she could physically hold back the fear creeping up her spine. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was terribly wrong—that time itself was unraveling around her.

As she stared up at the sliver of moon visible between the rooftops, her mind raced back to the conversation she had had with Keith just a few nights ago. The cryptic warnings, the danger he hinted at... Hadn't he said something about time? About how dangerous it could be?

"Am I... going crazy?" she whispered to herself, her breath visible in the chill of the night.

The answer didn't come from within, but from the eerie silence that seemed to press in around her. Adeline's pulse quickened, and she forced herself to take deep breaths, trying to ground herself in the present. She wasn't losing her mind. She couldn't be.

But the same faces. The same conversations. The same orders.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the back door creaking open. Debbie stepped out, her eyes filled with concern. "Hey, you okay? You've been out here a while."

Adeline nodded, though her expression said otherwise. "Yeah, I'm just... I don't know. Something feels off, Deb."

Debbie stepped closer, her voice gentle. "I think you've been overworking yourself. Maybe you need a day off, Addie. You're not making sense right now."

"I swear it's not just that," Adeline insisted, but her voice wavered with doubt. "It's like... déjà vu, but stronger. Like I've already lived through all of this."

Debbie's expression softened, and she reached out to give Adeline's arm a reassuring squeeze. "You're probably just overthinking. You've been dealing with a lot lately. With... Keith and everything."

At the mention of Keith's name, a chill ran down Adeline's spine. She hadn't told Debbie everything, of course. She couldn't. But even hearing his name brought all of the strange, unsettling memories rushing back.

"I guess," Adeline murmured, though she didn't sound convinced. She glanced back toward the diner's windows, where she could see the customers going about their meals as if nothing was wrong. But to her, it felt like a scene from a movie, replaying over and over, each detail locked in place.

"Look," Debbie said softly, "take the rest of the day off. Go home, get some sleep. You've been carrying way too much on your shoulders. I'll cover for you."

Adeline hesitated, biting her lip as the unease gnawed at her. But Debbie's offer was tempting, and the thought of curling up in her bed and shutting out the world, even for a little while, seemed like the best option.

"Okay," she finally agreed, her voice quiet. "Maybe I'll do that."

Debbie smiled warmly. "Good. Take care of yourself, Addie. You've been through enough."

Adeline offered her a weak smile in return, though the weight on her chest remained. As she turned to leave, a final glance over her shoulder sent a fresh wave of dread washing over her. The diner, the people, the ordinary day—it all felt too perfect, too familiar.

And for the first time, Adeline wondered if thedanger Keith had spoken of wasn't something in the future, but somethinghappening to her already.