Time Loop
Katie sat at a small table in the café, facing her now ex-husband, Simon, whod been her husband up until twenty minutes ago.
So thats it then, Simon said quietly.
Looks like it, Katie replied, her tone chilly.
Its all a bit ridiculous, isnt it…
Ridiculous? Katie bristled. Thats an understatement! You cheated on me for years, and now youre just moping about the fact you got caught out? Face it, sooner or later Id have found out, Simon. So
Alright. I should go, Simon sighed, standing up. Just know… you can always come to me if you ever need anything. And… for what its worth, I did love you. Still do.
Thank you, Simon. But honestly, if you loved me so much, why did you need someone else?
Well… youre the mother of my children, but with her, well… I just relax. The both of you, though, you both pushed me on to everything Ive achieved. Without you two, Id be nothing.
Im sure youll soon be off fathering more kids to jumpstart your motivation then.
No, Katie… she cant have children.
Simon turned and left, leaving Katie with her cooling cup of tea. She took the last sip, then rose and wandered out onto the street.
She could have driven, or called for a taxi, but she wanted to be amongst people, yet alone, and so she made her way down into the Underground.
Katie got on a train, slid into an empty seat, and let her thoughts consume her.
She remembered meeting Simon, imagined the wedding, the birth of their son and then daughter. Mostly, shed been happy. Sure, they had their rows, but nothing serious. Then, a friend sent her a photo of Simon kissing someone else. Just like that, after nearly twenty years together.
And as if that wasnt enough, she discovered hed been cheating for ages. Everything collapsed. The solid, dependable life shed carefully built began to unravel. Yes, she filed for divorce. It seemed she was supposed to feel lighter afterwards, but she didnt. The pain stuck.
Where did that other woman come from? How did they ever meet? she wondered desperately. If only that woman had never appeared in Simons life! If only…
Mind the closing doors. Next stop: Hammersmith, chimed the overhead announcement.
Oh, thats my stop, sighed Katie absently.
She surfaced from the Underground and emerged into a chilly evening air. Walking towards her home felt unbearable, so she wandered in circles around the neighbourhood.
After what felt like hours, the sky grew darker and her feet began to hurt. Well, you cant outrun yourself. Time to go home, she muttered, noticing it had just struck seven on her watch and making her way purposefully to her flat. Habit made her glance up at her windows, where she was startled to see the lights blazing.
Nerves prickled. Who could that be? Daughters at her friends in the country, sons with his girlfriend. Simon… well, certainly not him. Could it be a burglar?
A cold chill crept over her back.
She took the lift to her floor, unlocked the door, and nervously entered.
At last, youre home! called out a voice from the kitchen. Simon.
Katie stared. He looked utterly different: a couple of weeks worth of stubble, a sagging belly hanging over threadbare tracksuit bottoms, and an unkempt, sour mood. What on earth is going on here? flashed through her mind. Barely a few hours ago, he looked nothing like this.
Out gallivanting, were you? Simon barked. Give me your wages, you were paid today! Go on, hand them over!
Katies eyes widened. She looked around and realised the flat was the same, but the furniture was old, the battered stuff theyd had before the first renovationsperhaps even before a second round of improvements…
What wages? What are you even doing here?
I live here! What, you forgot? And wheres dinner?
I dont understand… Katie muttered, slowly taking off her coat.
Unbuttoning it sheepishly, she scanned the corridor and spotted a mirror. She rushed over. The reflection was her, but not hershe saw a tired, slightly plump woman with a dreadful haircut and no makeup, clad in cheap, ill-fitting clothes.
Whats the matter with you, staring in the mirror as if you barely recognise yourself? Now, what about dinner and the money?
On autopilot, Katie changed. Near the door were bags of groceries, from a shop she knew she hadnt visited that day. Still, she picked them up and went to the kitchen. Another surprise awaited: her son sat at the table, sporting a ridiculous new hairstyle, joined by a girl Katie didnt recognise. They were eating already.
And what are you doing here? she demanded, putting things in the fridge.
Um, he hesitated. I live here. With Lucy.
And why here? Why not in the flat your dad and I bought you?
Her son chuckled, half-heartedly. What, is this all one big joke? You bought me a flat? With your money? Dads been out of work for ages! Even when he worked, sometimes his pay never made it home. Mum, youre acting like youre from a different planet.
Katie pinched the bridge of her nose. Somethings off Wheres Molly?
Molly? Whos that?
Your sister, of course!
Mum, Ive never had a sister. Are you feeling alright? Should I ring the doctor?
No! No doctor! she snapped and backed away for the door.
Well? Am I going to get fed or not? Simon blocked her way.
Dad, her son snorted, you know she hasnt cooked for you in ages.
I know, just thought… oh, never mind. Simon lumbered off to the living room to watch TV.
Katie watched him, realising that in this version of life, there was certainly no mistress. She, as his wife, was just as lifeless. They must be living together simply because there was nowhere else to go.
Pulling on her coat again, she muttered, Just popping out for a walk, and left before anyone could stop her.
Outside, Katie hurried towards the Underground again, not quite sure whythe thought just fixed in her mind that she needed to get underground to clear her head and decide what to do next.
She boarded a train and stood near the door. Whats happening to me? Where am I? Everything here is old-fashioned, even the trains! Maybe Im dreaming
She pinched herself, but the pain was real. Shed read about parallel universes, about people vanishing without a trace. But this? Did this ever happen to anyone she knew? And now her?
This was absurd.
Katie was dressed in clothes shed never have chosen, her phone wasnt hers, and she was speeding through a ghost of her own city in a train from decades ago.
What am I supposed to do?
Yes, shed wished Simon had never met the other woman. But maybe that woman had been a key part of hisand herlife. Here was the world without her, and it was dreadful. In this world, Simon was a nobody, and she felt erased. She probably stayed with him simply because there was nowhere else to go. No. She didnt want this kind of life.
The train rattled on. Katie rode, changed lines, changed trains, wandering through the Undergrounds endless maze. She felt shed been travelling for an eternity, but then her watch insisted only thirty minutes had passed. There must be something off with time, too.
She hopped off, switched lines, then heard again: Mind the closing doors. Next stop: Hammersmith.
Oh! Thats mine, she noted again, heart squeezing tight. She left the station and suddenly broke into tears.
A passerby stopped. You alright, love?
Yes, thank you, Im fine, Katie lied and tried to gather herself.
I dont want this! she screamed silently. I want my own life back! I dont care if Simon ran off with her Waithold on!
She halted suddenly, standing near her building and stared at the lit windows above.
Wait! Every situation must have something positive, right? At least Im still myself, at least in my mind. I know what Im capable of, and what Simon is, too. Its in my power to change things. Why does he not work in this version of life? Why does he do nothing all day, just watches telly? Oh, Id soon fix that! Hed be off hunting for a job and cherishing meId make sure of it.
With these defiant thoughts, Katie dashed up the stairs, threw open her flat doorand was blinded by a bright light.
Where on earth have you been? Weve all been worried. Waiting and waiting for you!
Katie opened her eyes gingerly.
In front of her stood her husband, son, andher daughter, Molly! They all looked anxious, their faces pale.
Look at the timeseven oclock and still no sign of you! Simon practically shouted.
Katie licked her lips, struggling to respond. Its only seven? I thought it was much later.
She looked around. Everything was familiar: the furniture, the children, Simonall as they always were, in the clothes and hairstyles she knew.
She dashed to the mirror. Looking back was the Katie she recognised, wearing her own favourite jumper.
What is going on? Why are you all here? And you she pointed at Simon, we got divorced today…
Dont get worked up, love, said her son as they all hustled around her. Come on, lets have a cup of tea.
Oh, let me talk to her alone a minute, Simon insisted, waving the others away.
He turned to Katie, apologetic. Listen, Katie, Im sorry. Yes, we got divorced, but honestly, theres never been anyone else. No mistress. Never.
Katie frowned, puzzled. I saw the photos, Simon. You didnt deny it.
Well… yeah. Remember when I went on that fishing trip with the lads? Well, we decided to test our wives, see how theyd react if they thought wed had an affair. It was just a schemea prank.
Katie collapsed into a chair, fury building. How could you? What makes you think this is okay?
She glanced around, on the verge of flinging something at him.
Alright, alright! We could always remarry…
As if Id ever marry you again after that? You have no idea what Ive been through. The children… did they know?
They had no idea. Honest.
Something clicked. She remembered the parallel life shed just escaped, and how much she hated it. She recalled asking to get back to her real life. And here she wasin her comfortable home, surrounded by family. No mistress. It dawned on her that things might have been far, far worse.
Well, she said, glancing at her family, if were all here, lets put the kettle on.
Soon, the whole family was gathered around the kitchen table, sipping tea.
Mum, where were you, really? her son asked.
Oh, I was just riding the Underground. Needed to clear my head, Katie replied honestly, though she knew shed never be able to explain that shed been trapped in a time loop. Whod believe such a thing?
So, she sat, surrounded by her loved ones, grateful to be back in the life she knew. Sometimes, the things we think we want to erase shape who we become. And sometimes, it takes losing everythingeven for just a momentto see how much we have.
