The Man In A Fedora

Chapter 18: Back To Home

05/27/2071

Some unexplainable happenstance...
Once that was future now was the current time.
Sudden change in the climate and the environment.
After an eternity later, everything remained the same.
No matter how hard he wanted those memories to get blurry, they were clear.
Same skies, same architecture and the same people...
Except him.
The day he last existed was a year ago.
His funeral, he never found the courage within to face it.
Was it lonely, was it quiet?
Did his mother cry?
Would she get surprised if she saw him alive, would she get shocked?
His biggest wish was her to be happy.
He knew this action could create some side effects.
But he was ready, ready to face it.
Standing there, in the middle of their living room after a long time was giving him chills.
Holovision was on.
He locked his eyes on the screen.
It was the last minute news, he could still remember them being emergency calls of the government.

"According to an old painting, one of the biggest thieves of our generation is still alive. Davis Institute changed their statement about the issue.
Instead of killing him, the accident sent the suspect to somewhere outside space-time. This means he can be walking among us. Institute reported the changes in the magnetic field, they think the suspect could possibly be here.
Please report it if you see signal changes on your personal devices."

He heard the footsteps coming from the hallway.
He walked a few steps closer to the door.
There his mother was, holding the special device in her hands. She was ready to click on the screen.

A million words appeared in his mind, unspoken words of an eternity.
But instead, "Mama." he said.

The lady was shaking.
It was the silence before the storm.
She was right about to break into tears.
Her half dead son was standing right in front of her.

His voice cracked as he said
"It's me. Harold.".
Words were determinded not to get out.
He hardly managed to put the words together.
Walking one more step closer
"This probably was not the reunion you've hoped for, not even sure if you've hoped for one.
I know you don't want any danger, and I know I still am putting you at a risky situation. I know I'm nothing like the son you've dreamed of. Sorry I failed you.
If you want me to leave you alone,I understand. If you want to report me, go ahead." he said.
A small drop of a tear streamed down his face.

The woman was still holding the device in her trembling hands.
She looked at him from head to toe.
He wasn't dead, he had never been that alive indeed.
Throwing the device away
"I don't want no peace, I just want my son." she said.
Running from one side of the room to another, she hugged his son tight.

He was frozen, didn't know how to react.
He slowly hugged her back.
His hands were shaking.

"They're gonna find you if you stay." she said, hugging him tighter.

Locking his eyes on the device that's on the floor
"They need more than just an awful device to catch me." he said.

The HV was still on.
They were revealing the painting that led them to the conclusion that he was alive.
He no longer could hear what his mother had to say.
Cause he knew.
Knew that no word he'd be saying could remain.
Cause something was off.
An unexpected event that happened in the past changed the future.

He saw the painting.
Lights were spiraling on the center of an imaginary portal.
And he was standing right in front of it.
Every detail was painted perfectly.
Even though he wished not to know, he knew that painting style like the back of his hand.
He didn't want to believe it was her.
Didn't want to assume she could be that mindless.
He did not even care about the million risks of him getting caught, he just didn't want that moment to disappear.
But there was no other way to fix things.
He took a one last glance at the painting before letting the moment disappear.
He saw the signature.

"*ASTERISK*"