trapped in time

epilogue

Scott didn't talk to the strangers much. They had exchanged phone numbers and Instagram usernames, but never texted or talked to each other. He set aside the strange event that occurred and just decide to go on with his life. Scott's best friend, Avi, started dating the girl he met at the theme park. Scott was still single, despite many failed dates with a variety of men that just weren't right for him.

A year passed. It was August 8th. Almost a year since he woke up on the floor of a stranger's apartment. That night, he settled into bed and immediately knew he wasn't going to be able to sleep that night. He could just tell.

He tossed and turned for an hour. At midnight, he closed his eyes tightly. Scott was furious he couldn't sleep. It was frustrating. He opened his eyes suddenly and a blinding light shocked him.

It was blue. Bright blue. He blinked a couple of times as his eyes adjusted to the light. It was coming from his chest. He put his hand on his chest where the light was and suddenly he wasn't in his room anymore.

Well, he was. But that's not what he saw. He saw the strangers. But they weren't strangers anymore. He could feel the love between them, and remembered everything. He looked at each of them.

Matt. The guy who he met on a plane, who was always smiling, who danced with Scott all the time and sang Beyoncé songs with him and laughed at every little thing.

Kirstin. The girl he shared a bed with for a year, who had two huskies, who he found crying in a little supply closet of a deli and immediately knew was just like him despite their differences.

Kevin. The guy he met first, the one who made him feel safe, and not alone. The one he ran into at a theme park before he knew that he would be stuck with him for that whole repetition, only to forget him in one second.

Mitch. The one who he had an immediate crush on, who he kissed in the middle of the night, who came up with the idea for "Run to You." The one that Scott thought was better as a friend. But when Scott looked at him, all he felt was love.

A tear rolled down his face. He remembered everything. The trip to Tokyo, the speech to Kirstin in the middle of the night, kissing Mitch in the hotel room, riding the rollercoaster with Kevin- it all came back to him. How could he have forgotten his closest friends, who understood what he went through and went through it with him.

He took his hand off his chest. Luckily, the memories stayed in his head. He grabbed his phone.

Meet at the Starbucks on 13th street?

He texted. He got four responded immediately.

Of course

Yes

Yeah

Yes

He grabbed his phone and got dressed quickly. He ran out of his apartment and into the street. He looked down the sidewalk. Where he had paced when he first started the repetition. He ran down the street.

Scott saw the Starbucks sign. He ran in.

Nobody was there but a sleepy barista. He sat down at a table. He took a deep breath.

He heard someone running outside. He turned to look. It was Mitch. He sprung out of his seat and ran out of the Starbucks. Mitch's eyes widened.

"I can't believe we forgot each other. I missed you, you mean so much to me! How-" Mitch was cut off.

Scott grabbed Mitch's face and kissed him. He felt Mitch's surprise, then felt him ease and kiss Scott back.

Scott pulled away. "How could I have ever said we'd be better off as friends? We're meant for each other."