The HOTLINE

Walternate Universe HESU-97

“You’ll need to talk to your alternate, indirectly” TOTO said
“What do you mean?” I asked noticing his grim robotic voice
“There have been untimely occurrences across many worlds
And we believe you’ll alternate in the next will make a bad choice”

It was 11:21pm when the portal opened in a small dark hallway
Right away I felt an ominous heavy burden for this mission
The room down the hallway was a call center of some sort
A suicide hotline where people were there to help and listen

I gave the supervisor an alternate name so they’d check credentials
I wasn’t a qualified crisis counselor or let alone a therapist
But who else rather than an alternate to know more about myself
After all I’ve been through I had become more of a moralist

It was a slow night, a few calls would come in every now and then
The brace had been equipped my alternate number to connect
At three seventeen the call came in and I picked up the phone
Only to hear him crying over the line trying to compose himself

He gave the name of Frank, our father, just to use as a disguise
His voice was exactly like mine, but he was broken and stressed
We talked for several hours like old friends until the morning
Sorting things out because I knew how badly he was depressed

His current situation was my distant past in similar circumstances
No need for psychological terms tonight just the raw honesty
“Pawn the pistol”, I told him “get rid of it for the time being”
Because losing an alternate me scared me to a certain degree

Later I purchased a coffee from across the pawnshop I suggested
It was a cool morning I was really hoping he’d take my guidance
He showed up, went into the shop and seemed to do what I asked
Then I followed him amidst a crowd of people in complete silence

I saw him looking at the ticket then placed it in his jacket pocket
I snuck behind him and was able to pick it without him feeling it
I went back to the shop and the owner was surprised to see me
“You changed your mind” he said but now I was the one stealing it

I put the pistol in my jacket pocket and walked out fast
The brace’s light turned on and TOTO said “he’s coming back”
I looked for a place to open the portal trying get out
But I ran into him in an alley as I muttered to myself “crap”

I removed my sunglasses so he could look into my eyes
He was in total disbelief as if looking into his own reflection
“Go to work” I told him “everything is going to be alright”
Then behind a wall I disappeared without detection