I’m sitting at my bedroom desk…
Doing boring science homework on my laptop…
When I’m given a fright by an incoming video call.
It’s not from anyone in my contacts list…
And instead of displaying the caller’s name…
There’s just a random number:
With a raised eyebrow, I answer the call…
And an elderly woman appears on my screen…
Wearing a heart-shaped locket around her neck.
A smile creeps up the woman’s mouth.
Woman
No, but I can help YOU.
Woman
You’re in love with your best friend, aren’t you?
I feel my face go pale as the blood drains out of it.
Callie
I’ve never told anybody that.
Callie
How do you know that?
The woman leans back in her chair.
Woman
I know a lot of things about you, Callie.
Woman
I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.
Woman
But I’m someone who knows you better than anyone.
I can’t hide the chill that runs through me.
Callie
There’s no way you can know me better than anyone.
Callie
The only person who knows me better than anyone is myself.
The woman chuckles lightly.
Woman
I can prove it to you.
Woman
Your best friend’s name is Harrison Parry.
Woman
You’ve known him since kindergarten.
Woman
And you realized you were in love with him…
Woman
The moment he caught you when you tripped on the sidewalk.
I press my hand to my collarbone…
Not quite believing what I’m hearing.
Callie
What are you, some kind of mind reader?
Woman
Something like that.
Callie
Well, I don’t appreciate you video calling me…
Callie
And scaring me with this stuff.
Callie
I’m calling the cops.
A panic suddenly sweeps over the woman’s face…
Woman
No, Callie, please.
Woman
It was not my intention to scare you.
Woman
Like I said earlier…
Woman
I want to help you.
Woman
When I was your age, I was in the same position as you.
Woman
I was in love with my best friend…
Woman
And even though I desperately wanted to confess my feelings to him…
Woman
I chose to keep them to myself.
Woman
We ended up drifting apart when we met other people…
Woman
But I was never truly happy in any of those relationships.
Woman
It was many years later that I found out…
Woman
My best friend had been just as in love with me…
I pause for a moment, unsure whether to trust this woman or not.
Callie
But I don’t think MY best friend feels the same way about ME.
Woman
I thought the exact same thing.
She reaches up and clutches her heart-shaped locket.
Woman
Little did I know that he had hidden this locket…
Woman
In my bedroom when we were teenagers.
Woman
It was inscribed with the words “I love you.”
Woman
He planned on telling me where it was hidden…
Woman
As a way to confess his love…
Woman
But he never did, because he didn’t know how I felt.
Woman
I found it when I was going through old things in my later years.
Woman
And I just wish I had found it sooner.
Woman
What I’m trying to say is…
Woman
You may be surprised by how your friend truly feels.
Woman
And if you don’t tell him how YOU feel, you’ll never know.
I nod slowly, knowing that she’s right.
I open my mouth to say thank you…
And the connection cuts out.
I’m still baffled by the whole exchange…
But I don’t want to waste another moment.
I need to let Harrison know how I feel.
So I immediately video call him.
When he answers, he beams at me.
Harrison
Hey Callie, are you okay?
Callie
Harrison, there’s something I need to tell you.
Callie
I…don’t just see you as a friend.
Callie
You’re more than that to me.
Callie
Harrison, I’m…in love with you.
Harrison stares at me with his mouth hanging open.
Callie
Oh man, I’ve just ruined our friendship, haven’t I?
Callie
I should never have said anything.
Harrison shakes himself out of his state of shock.
Harrison
I had no idea you felt that way.
Harrison
But I’m so happy you told me.
Harrison
Because I feel the same way about you.
Harrison
I’ve felt like this for a long time.
Harrison
There’s actually something I’d like to give you.
Harrison
Go to the storage crate under your bed.
Harrison
You’ll find a little black box in there.
Harrison
Just…bring it back here.
I retrieve the little box…
And open it in front of the camera.
And it’s not just any locket.
It’s the same heart-shaped locket that was around the old woman’s neck…
Inscribed with the words “I love you.”
Harrison
I put it there a while back as a surprise for you.
Harrison
But I didn’t have the guts to tell you it was there.
Harrison
Woman? What woman?
Callie
I got a video call from a random number a few moments ago.
Callie
It was an old woman who gave me some advice.
Harrison
What was the number?
Harrison
I don’t think that’s a random number.
Harrison
It’s today’s date…
Harrison
But 60 years from now.
Harrison
The 31st of July, 2080.
Harrison
Can you imagine if someone was calling you from the future?
Harrison suddenly bursts into laughter.
Harrison
I’m only messing around.
Harrison
It probably is just a random number.
Harrison
But who do you think the old woman was?
I place the locket around my neck…
And I feel a calm smile radiate across my face.
Callie
Just someone who knows me…
Callie
Better than anyone.
