2024-10-15 “Checking In” by Hannah (born 2002)

CHECKING IN (by Hannah-2002)—It has been a whirlwind for me since last week. On Thursday, I got left behind in 1880 while everyone else shifted back to 2024. While I was teaching Chemistry to the 1880 Will’s cousin the 1984 version of me was keeping secret the fact that we hadn’t yet shifted. Then on Saturday, I shifted back. But Shay had the idea to send packers to all our apartments and to move us on Sunday afternoon. 

Yesterday, I worked with Devon all day and when we got home to our new apartment, things were still fairly stirred up from being new. This morning, Merritt and I were on a site doing that measuring and comparing thing we do. Then back to the office to update files and report to the project leads.

When we finally were done, we met at the subway for the trip back to Brooklyn.

A side note: I really like having moved and being so much closer to everyone. I really like having Emma as a roommate. Of course, being closer to Merritt is great, too.

As Merritt and I settled in for the ride… home, he took my hand, so I squeezed his and said, “We’re okay, right?”

“Okay?”

“I told you about my thoughts in Memphis after I was left behind. I guess I was partly thinking about never getting shifted back.”

Merritt smiled. “Yeah, we’re good, right? I figure it as you just transferred your feelings to that version of the same person. I didn’t notice anything really different, except 1962 you didn’t know how to use the computer… You… she made me do the changes…”

I smiled. “You’re getting pretty good at the CAD system, now.”

Merritt laughed. “Not as good as my teacher…”

I leaned over into him. “It won’t be long.”

“If you say so…”

The clatter of the car’s wheels on the rails filled the a few otherwise silent seconds, then I said, “But… you and me… we’re good?”

Merritt squeezed my hand. “We are… We’re a good team. We… are good together, right?”

“I think we are.”

Merritt squeezed my hand again. “Me too.”