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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Science Fiction
- Subject: Flash / Mini / Very Short
- Published: 03/18/2026
The Warning 2026
Born 1947, M, from Oceanside, United States
The Warning 2026
“I’m you from the future,” the stranger said.
Aaron almost laughed as he stared at the man with the long grey beard and dark sunglasses sitting across from him on the small table outside his local Starbucks.
“And I’m supposed to believe you?”
“I can prove it. Remember when you were five and fell off the monkey bars in the park? You said the nurse who helped you had nice eyes, especially after she bought you a chocolate ice-cream cone.”
Aaron pursed his lips. “Okay, let’s say I believe you. What year are you from?
“2052.”
“And what am I doing in 2052?”
“Living a miserable life,” replied his visitor. That one brought Aaron up a little short.
“Why am I miserable?”
“Because you married Marie.” Aaron felt a lump form in his throat.
“Why? What did she do?”
“Whent crazy about almost everything—the house, your job, us.”
“We were so much in love. What made her change?”
“Hanging around with her crazy rich friends. They got into her head, screwed with her thinking.”
“So, why are you/me here?”
“I’m here to warn you not to marry her. You have an alternative.”
“What alternative?”
“You have Patty.” Aaron had dated her before he met Marie.
“No, I don’t. We split. Besides, it’s been too many years. She’s probably married by now.”
“She isn’t. I checked on her before I came. She’s still single.”
“So, why didn’t you hookup with her?”
He shook his head. “Too old. I’m here to offer you a happier future.”
Aaron touched the pocket of his jacket where the box containing the ring he’d just bought waited.
“So, what happens to you if I manage to reconnect with Patty?”
“My timeline disappears.”
“You okay with that?”
“I am if I know you aren’t going to marry Marie.”
While Aaron thought about it, he happened to glance down at his coffee. When he looked up again, his visitor was gone. Shocked, he looked around. “Where did you go?” he murmured.
Aaron remained sitting at the table for several more minutes, his thoughts tumbling over each other like pinballs. One thought kept popping up. Could he really leave Marie behind and reconnect with Patty?
He felt horrible about what he did, but one year later, Aaron and Patty were engaged to be married.
A few years later, at an engineering conference, Aaron ran into the wealthy executive who had married Marie. Although highly successful, he didn’t seem happy.
“I’m you from the future,” the stranger said.
Aaron almost laughed as he stared at the man with the long grey beard and dark sunglasses sitting across from him on the small table outside his local Starbucks.
“And I’m supposed to believe you?”
“I can prove it. Remember when you were five and fell off the monkey bars in the park? You said the nurse who helped you had nice eyes, especially after she bought you a chocolate ice-cream cone.”
Aaron pursed his lips. “Okay, let’s say I believe you. What year are you from?
“2052.”
“And what am I doing in 2052?”
“Living a miserable life,” replied his visitor. That one brought Aaron up a little short.
“Why am I miserable?”
“Because you married Marie.” Aaron felt a lump form in his throat.
“Why? What did she do?”
“Whent crazy about almost everything—the house, your job, us.”
“We were so much in love. What made her change?”
“Hanging around with her crazy rich friends. They got into her head, screwed with her thinking.”
“So, why are you/me here?”
“I’m here to warn you not to marry her. You have an alternative.”
“What alternative?”
“You have Patty.” Aaron had dated her before he met Marie.
“No, I don’t. We split. Besides, it’s been too many years. She’s probably married by now.”
“She isn’t. I checked on her before I came. She’s still single.”
“So, why didn’t you hookup with her?”
He shook his head. “Too old. I’m here to offer you a happier future.”
Aaron touched the pocket of his jacket where the box containing the ring he’d just bought waited.
“So, what happens to you if I manage to reconnect with Patty?”
“My timeline disappears.”
“You okay with that?”
“I am if I know you aren’t going to marry Marie.”
While Aaron thought about it, he happened to glance down at his coffee. When he looked up again, his visitor was gone. Shocked, he looked around. “Where did you go?” he murmured.
Aaron remained sitting at the table for several more minutes, his thoughts tumbling over each other like pinballs. One thought kept popping up. Could he really leave Marie behind and reconnect with Patty?
He felt horrible about what he did, but one year later, Aaron and Patty were engaged to be married.
A few years later, at an engineering conference, Aaron ran into the wealthy executive who had married Marie. Although highly successful, he didn’t seem happy.
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