One free second chance decision

It’s late when Roger gets the call. It takes less than a minute for the information to flow through the earpiece. Two seconds after that, Roger is on the road. There isn’t time to waste. There never is with these things. He thinks about these things. It’s been a year and it still makes no sense. However, it works every time. Except, saying that it works every time, isn’t exactly accurate.

Roger checks the intersection. All clear. He makes his turn and drives toward the rendezvous. It wouldn’t take long on this one. All he had to do was pass along the warning. Then leave. Quick and easy. The only sticking point is the timing. Maybe that’s why Roger pulled this assignment. Timing is everything. The old saying echoes in his thoughts. The blinker’s clicking is the only sound in the car as he pulls into the parking lot. He checks the time. It’s 2:30 pm so he’s early.

As long as he’s in the lobby waiting for the elevator no later than 2:43 pm. Deliver the message on the elevator ride to the ninth floor. The instructions were precise. However, they felt ambiguous every time. For example, he doesn’t know who will be in the elevator with him. Only that there will be someone there. Someone who needs to hear the message Roger carries.

One Free Second Chance

Andrea arrives slightly early. She is pleased with her progress today. If things stay on pace, she will be done in enough time to get an extra hour’s sleep before her flight. Of course she is probably overreacting. But this is her first flight to another country. In fact, she’s been looking forward to this trip for months. All she needs is this visit to the passport office. From here, all she has left to do is pack her suitcase.

Her flight leaves tomorrow afternoon. This is the final step in her preparation. Just some updating on her passport. Thinking about this deeply, she gets on the elevator. She’s so engrossed in her thoughts she barely notices the gentleman getting on the elevator with her. The doors close, and the elevator dings as they proceed upward. She’s on her way to the ninth floor. The gentleman in the elevator with her, turns to look at her, as another ding signals the second floor.

“You must postpone your flight.” Andrea looks at the man but cannot grasp what he just said. She frowns slightly, and responds coldly.

“Excuse me? Are you speaking to me?” The man looks at her calmly, and then puts his phone to his ear even though it did not ring. When he moves the phone away from his ear, he speaks to Andrea again. Only this time with more urgency.

One Decision

“You must postpone your flight tomorrow. Do not get on that plane tomorrow Andrea. Reschedule the flight.” The elevator dings for the fifth floor and continues upward. The gentleman looks earnestly at Andrea once more, then turns, and vanishes.

Andrea blinks in disbelief. She looks all around the elevator car but she is alone. She hadn’t been alone. But now she is. Furthermore, she feels entirely on edge now. Rattled. What the hell just happened?

*****

Roger gets on the elevator just after Andrea. As the doors close he becomes certain of two things. The first, is that the second chance he carries, is for Andrea. The second thing he becomes aware of, is her name. This is how it always is. The details come along, later. Usually, as he does. Now he knows for certain that he must warn Andrea to postpone her flight. He will only have seconds to get it right.

Therefore he turns to her, and gives her the message. At first, she just stares at him. Then his phone rings. He must answer. Those are the rules. So he answers, and gets his new instructions. They were cutting it close today. So he looks at Andrea once more and gives his most convincing warning. Then he turns and leaves the elevator. It will be sunny where he appears next.

Second Chance

The following night Andrea watches in horror as her flight crashes into the ocean. She doesn’t see the actual crash, but she hears about it on the news. In fact, it is rapidly becoming world news. She thinks about the man on the elevator. Had she not listened, she wouldn’t be here. For some reason she got a second chance. She wonders if the man was an Angel. Furthermore, why her? She is contemplating this and looking at the stars when the phone rings.

Thanks for reading, Happy Halloween!

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