It Begins With Us

40.

I insert the key and push the door open. 

The apartment is old but well kept. 

I shut the door and walk in, spying the brown box on the table. I set the key down on the table and carry the box over to the T.V set in the corner of the small living room. I sit down in front of the T.V and set it up, it's been a long while, but I still know how to work these. 

I fish through the tapes and when I find the one that has Alba's name written on it twice, I carefully insert it. It also has another name written on it. 'Dr. Kendrick'. I insert it and wait, my stomach churning and my heart thumping loudly in my ears.

The tape starts focused on tiled floor. Then it moves to an entryway into a backyard.

"Why should I record? Is she sure?" The woman, Mrs. DeTamble I think, mutters to herself. "I could just get rid of it later."

We walk though the door and out to the yard, the sounds of girls' laughter ringing through the air. Then the camera pans across green grass and a big tree. Under the tree there are girls, I only catch a blur of them as they hide behind the tree. On was taller and broader then the other. One of the girls peeks out and my heart stutters the sight of a young Alba.

Her curly hair is shorter, only till her shoulders and her face is rounder. I get to my knees and lean in, pressing my fingers to her image. Then my breath stops in my chest as the other girl peeks out above Alba. It's Alba, in her early twenties, she waves at the camera, and frighteningly she seems to be waving right at me.

"Are you sure about this?" Mrs. DeTamble yells and older Alba nods.

"She said someone special really needs this, in the future." She replies staring into my eyes and then looks down and tickles little Alba on the back of her neck.

'Alba.' My mind chants her name till it's all that's in my mind.

"Ready?" She asks her and little Alba nods up at her.

"Then let's do it." She say and steps out from behind the tree.

I watch as she grabs the smaller Alba's hand and they both walk towards the camera. They smile at one another excitedly then turn to the camera.

"One." The start a count down. "Two." "Three!"

And then they're gone.

I fall backwards, my head spinning. I can't think. I can't even begin to comprehend. 

Then little Alba is back, all by herself. She peeks around the tree trunk and I notice her shoulders are bare. 

"Done Mama?" Mrs. DeTamble asks with a grin.

"Done Mama." Alba replies, and then the screen goes blank.

-

'I remember.'

"Were you really gonna leave without kissing me?" I ask teasingly and she laughs.

"I knew you'd pull me back." She laughs, and there's something that I can't decipher behind it.

....