Chapter 40: Threads of Time

Saturday September 3rd, 2005

Katie awoke to the pale glow of sunlight slipping through her curtains, accompanied by the soft trill of birdsong outside her window. The hum of her ceiling fan provided a steady rhythm as she blinked away the last remnants of sleep. Yet, as her consciousness sharpened, so too did the memory of the previous night, crashing into her with startling clarity.

Josh.

She had seen him in the stands at the football game, his face unmistakable even through the chaos of the crowd. It wasn’t a trick of her imagination or a fleeting mirage. It was him. And yet, the implications of his presence sent her thoughts spiraling. In her first life, Josh had never attended any of her football games. They hadn’t even crossed paths until 2014, long after the carefree days of high school had ended. So why was he here now, in this timeline, so far ahead of when they were supposed to meet? What had changed to make this happen?

Katie stared up at the ceiling, her mind a chaotic whirlpool of questions with no answers. She replayed the brief moment their eyes had met, the way her breath had hitched and her entire body had frozen as though time itself had paused. Even now, the memory sent a shiver down her spine. What had compelled him to attend the game? Was it a coincidence, or had something shifted in the fabric of their lives?

Her thoughts veered toward their first meeting in her previous life. It had been an ordinary day in 2014, a chance encounter that changed everything. She had gone to a warehouse to pick up an order for her store, and Josh had been there, working as a truck driver. Back then, she could never have imagined how deeply they would come to love each other or the tragedies that would follow. That timeline felt like a distant dream now, and the stark contrast with her current reality left her feeling untethered.

A soft knock at the door interrupted her spiraling thoughts, pulling her back to the present.

“Come in,” she called, her voice groggy with the remnants of sleep.

The door creaked open, and Aunt Pam stepped inside, her warm, familiar presence filling the room. Pam’s smile, gentle and understanding, made Katie’s chest tighten with emotion. Pam had always been her confidant, the one person she could trust implicitly. Seeing her now, in her robe and with her hair slightly mussed from sleep, brought a wave of comfort.

“Morning, sweetheart,” Pam said softly. “Mind if I join you?”

“Of course not,” Katie replied, shifting over to make room. Pam slid under the covers beside her, pulling the blanket up with a contented sigh. For a moment, they lay side by side in companionable silence, the unspoken bond between them as strong as ever.

Pam’s sharp eyes seemed to pierce through Katie’s hesitation. Tilting her head slightly, she studied her niece with an intensity that was both comforting and disconcerting. “You know,” Pam said, her voice soft but firm, “I’ve always been able to read you like a book. And right now, it feels like I’m looking at a whole different person. The eyes looking back at me aren’t the same ones I saw last summer, when you curled up in my bed, gushing about your crush on Kyle like a lovestruck puppy.”

Katie’s breath caught. Pam’s words landed with an almost physical force, their accuracy startling. She hesitated, the truth trembling on the edge of her lips. Could she tell her? Could she really unburden herself of the impossible truth?

Pam seemed to sense her struggle, her expression softening as she reached over to take Katie’s hand. “Whatever it is, you can tell me,” she said gently. “I’m here for you.”

Katie’s defenses began to crumble under the weight of Pam’s understanding. Tears welled in her eyes, spilling over as she finally let go of the emotions she had been holding back for so long. She turned toward Pam, clutching her tightly as sobs wracked her body.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Pam murmured, her voice steady and soothing. “Just let it out.”

For a long moment, Katie couldn’t speak. The words were tangled in her throat, each one threatening to overwhelm her. When she finally managed to choke them out, her voice was barely above a whisper. “I ... I don’t even understand it myself,” she admitted, her sentences broken by the occasional hiccup of a sob. “But you’re right. You’re so right.”

Pam held her close, her hands moving in gentle, reassuring strokes along Katie’s back. “Take your time,” she said softly. “Whatever this is, we’ll figure it out together. You don’t have to carry it alone.”

Katie’s grip tightened, her sobs slowly subsiding as Pam’s words sank in. She didn’t know where to begin or how to explain the impossible, but for the first time in what felt like forever, she didn’t feel entirely alone. The weight of her secret hadn’t lifted, but it had eased, just a little. And for now, that was enough.

Katie’s breathing slowed, her sobs tapering off into quiet sniffles. She pulled back from Pam’s embrace slightly, her tear-streaked face still red and her eyes glassy with emotion. She searched her aunt’s gaze, hoping to find the comfort and understanding she so desperately needed.

“I don’t think you’ll believe me,” Katie began hesitantly, her voice trembling. “I’m not even sure I believe it myself...”

Pam’s expression remained steady, her calm demeanor unwavering. “Just start wherever it feels right,” she encouraged gently. “I can see this is weighing on you, Katie. Whatever it is, let it out, and we’ll work through it together.”

Katie wiped at her face with the sleeve of her pajama top, her breath hitching as she tried to find the right words. “You were right,” she said finally, her voice slow and deliberate. “Everything you said earlier. I’ve lived. I’ve loved. And I’ve lost it all. And now, because of a deal I made with Death ... I’m back.”

Pam’s brow furrowed as she tried to make sense of the statement. Her voice was cautious but kind. “What do you mean, Katie? Back from where?”

Katie took a deep, shuddering breath, her hands trembling as she clenched the blanket in her lap. “I’ve traveled through time,” she explained, her words thick with disbelief even as she spoke them. “Not physically, but mentally. I was 32 years old. I was married to a man named Joshua Harlow, and...” Her voice cracked, and she bit her lip, trying to stave off another wave of tears. “And we were expecting a baby.”

Her composure crumbled again, and she broke down, clutching at her chest as sobs wracked her frame. Pam immediately pulled her close, wrapping her arms around Katie and rubbing her back in soothing circles.

“It’s okay, sweetheart,” Pam murmured, her voice soft and steady. “Take your time. I’m here.”

They sat like that for several minutes, Pam holding Katie as her cries gradually subsided into quiet hiccups. Finally, Katie pulled away again, wiping at her swollen eyes and sniffling.

“Josh and I were in a car accident,” Katie said softly, her voice raw but steady. “I remember seeing a flash of silver ... and then everything went fuzzy. The next thing I knew, I woke up in my childhood bedroom. At first, I thought it was just a dream. But it wasn’t.”

Pam stayed silent, her attention fully focused on Katie as she spoke.

“That first night, I had a ... a dream, I guess,” Katie continued, her voice trembling. “But it wasn’t like any dream I’ve ever had. I was in this dark, empty place. And there was someone there. I think it was Death.” She paused, her fingers tightening around the blanket. “Death gave me a choice: stay there and wait for Josh, or go back to him. I didn’t even hesitate. I told Death I wanted to go back.”

Pam’s lips parted slightly, her expression both astonished and thoughtful. “And that’s when you woke up here?” she asked.

Katie nodded, her voice breaking as she replied. “But it didn’t send me back to before the crash. It sent me here. Back to being a teenager.”

Pam’s eyes softened as she reached out, resting a hand on Katie’s shoulder. “That’s ... a lot to take in,” she admitted gently. “But I can see how real this is for you. Keep going, sweetheart.”

Katie’s breath hitched as she continued. “It’s only been about a week since I came back. I’ve been trying so hard to keep it together, but it’s so hard. I thought I’d be able to fix everything, but instead, I’m stuck here. I miss Josh. I miss my baby. And every day, it feels like I’m losing pieces of them all over again.”

Pam’s hand moved to cover Katie’s, squeezing gently. “I can’t imagine how hard this must be for you,” she said. “But you’re not alone in this.”

Katie took a shaky breath and pressed on. “Last night at the football game,” she said, her voice trembling, “I was so happy to see you, Uncle Barry, and everyone else. For a little while, I felt normal again. But then ... I saw someone in the stands. A few rows behind you.” Her eyes glistened with fresh tears. “It was Josh.”

Pam’s brows shot up in surprise, but she didn’t interrupt.

“I know it was him,” Katie said firmly. “He looked different—fitter, more confident—but it was him. And when our eyes met...” Her voice faltered, and she looked down at her lap. “It felt like he knew me. Like he recognized me too. But that doesn’t make sense. He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t even know who I am yet.”

Pam leaned in closer, her hand still resting on Katie’s. “Katie, whatever’s happening, we’ll figure it out,” she said, her voice resolute. “You don’t have to go through this alone. Whatever this means, we’ll face it together.”

The morning slipped by as Katie and Pam continued talking, their conversation shifting into a calmer, more measured rhythm. Katie recounted everything she could remember: the accident, her meeting with Death, and the overwhelming confusion of waking up in her teenage body. Pam listened intently, her eyes never leaving Katie’s as she pieced together the incredible story.