Elias sat at his desk, staring at the latest entry in his diary. His hands trembled as he re-read the words he had written only hours ago. The memories of his latest time shift lingered like a fading dream, details slipping through his grasp the more he tried to hold onto them.
Noah and Maya had begun to notice his erratic behavior. The small inconsistencies in his actions, his sudden reactions to events before they happened—it was becoming difficult to hide. Yet, he wasn't sure how much he should reveal.
Tonight, he had plans to meet up with Noah at a small diner near his apartment. He needed someone to talk to, someone he could trust. But how could he make him believe?
Elias walked into the diner, the bell above the door chiming softly. Noah was already there, a half-finished coffee in front of him. He waved Elias over, his eyes narrowing as he took in his friend's anxious demeanor.
"You look like you've seen a ghost," Noah remarked, stirring his coffee absentmindedly.
"You ever feel like your life is repeating?" Elias asked, sitting down. "Like... you know what's going to happen before it does?"
Noah smirked. "Déjà vu? That's normal, man. Happens to everyone."
Elias shook his head. "No, not déjà vu. I mean actually knowing. Like, say, if I told you in exactly ten seconds, the waitress is going to drop that tray, and it happens. Would you believe me?"
Noah leaned forward, intrigued. "Alright, tell me."
Elias glanced toward the waitress. Five seconds. Four. Three. Two.
The tray tumbled from her hands, dishes shattering against the floor. Gasps echoed through the diner.
Noah stared at Elias. "Alright. That was weird."
"I need to show you something," Elias said, sliding his diary across the table. "Just read."
As Noah flipped through the pages, his face shifted from skepticism to concern. "This is insane... if this is real, I mean."
"I don't need you to believe me," Elias said. "I just need your help."
---
The night air was crisp as Elias and Noah walked along the dimly lit street. A weight had lifted from Elias' shoulders—finally, someone knew. Someone had seen the proof.
"This is unreal," Noah muttered. "So you're telling me you've actually... shifted through time?"
Elias nodded. "And every time, I'm the only one who remembers. It's like the world resets, but I stay the same."
Noah rubbed his temples. "Okay. Let's assume I believe you. What do you plan to do with this?"
"I don't know yet," Elias admitted. "But if I keep going back, there has to be a reason. I need to figure out what's causing this."
Noah exhaled sharply. "Well, you've got me. We'll figure it out. But no crazy paradox experiments, alright? No betting on lottery numbers or trying to change the world."
Elias chuckled. "No promises."
The two reached Elias' apartment. As he unlocked the door, a strange sensation washed over him—a deep, gnawing feeling of unease. He froze in place.
"You alright?" Noah asked.
Elias glanced around. Something was off. The door was locked, everything looked the same... and yet, he knew. Something had changed.
He stepped inside cautiously. His apartment was untouched, yet it felt different—like a page in a book had been rewritten while he wasn't looking.
Then he saw it.
On his desk, his diary was open.
The latest entry wasn't his own handwriting.
Elias' blood ran cold. Someone—or something—had written in his diary.
'You are not alone.'
---