With a sigh, Lucious withdrew something from his pocket before re-reading it.
Come to the local museum. Tonight, by six, locate the trio of paintings featuring a mother and child, then settle onto the nearby couch.
Lucious glanced at his watch as he ran his fingers through his hair, ignoring the bald spot. “Fifteen minutes early.” He crushed the note, pocketed it, and sat down in the middle of the little nook. Lucious leaned against the back of the sofa, staring at the center portrait. He let his eyes dance upon every line of the woman and child glorified in the central canvas. While he absorbed the painting’s beauty, Lucious’s hand reached for the top of his head. Absently, his fingertips massaged his bare patch of skin before he removed his glasses.
As Lucious rubbed his eyes, a figure with gray hair poking out from under a baseball cap sat down next to him. Lucious returned his glasses as the elderly individual joined him in studying the portrait. After several tense seconds, the gentleman asked, “How are you doing today?”
Lucious cocked his head and asked, “Have we met before?”
The man’s laughter filled the chamber and somehow felt familiar. When the elderly gentleman stopped laughing, he pulled off his hat, clenching its brim in one hand. He raised his left leg onto the couch with his other hand, then turned toward Lucious. “While you’ve never met me before, I’m intimately familiar with you.”
Lucious scoffed as he pulled out the note. “Is this your handiwork?”
The graying fellow smiled and gave a curt nod. “I needed to speak with you.” Lucious’s head swept back and forth as he rose, but the older gentleman grabbed his arm and pulled him back to the couch. “We haven’t had the required conversation yet.”
“Given your admission that we haven’t met,” Lucious said as he pulled his arm away from the old man, “I’m not going to talk to you.”
The stranger flashed a sinister smile as his fingers tightened around Lucious’s arm, pulling him closer while quieting his voice. “Do you remember a special night when you were twelve?”
Lucious, struggling against the older man’s grasp, asked, “What?”
The graying fellow’s smile intensified as he pulled him closer. “You snuck into your parent’s liquor cabinet to swipe a bottle.”
Lucious, wrenching free from the stranger’s grasp, leaned in, his eyes smoldering with fury. “Only my parents knew that!”
The old man’s smile continued to spread, showing his teeth. “Of course, that’s not the interesting part of the story.”
“That’s enough! It’s impossible for you to be aware of those details! Who are you?”
The elderly individual wrung his cap as he turned to stare at the center mother and child. After reflecting upon the sight for several heartbeats, the stranger removed his glasses and used them as a pointer to emphasize the central canvas. “What ideas does this image evoke in you?”
“What?”
“Your first thoughts,” the older man clarified.
With a harrumph, Lucious stalked to the portrait, stuffing his hands into his pockets. He studied the painting, and without turning around, he said, “Love and beauty.”
“Two simple words.” The other gentleman repeated in a whisper. “Yet the meaning behind them is so powerful, wouldn’t you agree?”
With his scowl deepening, Lucious glared at the man, asking, “Who are you?”
“You’ll have a choice to make in a couple of days.” The elderly gentleman leaned forward and began cleaning his glasses. When he finished, he put them back on, offering a warm smile. “Remember those words when your choice is upon you.”
“Seriously, who are you?” Lucious demanded as he grabbed at his thinning hair.
“I hope we never meet again, Lucious,” the elderly fellow inclined his head. “When the time comes, you need to remember your reaction.” The older gentleman rose, pointing at the portrait. Then he tapped Lucious’s chest with the same finger. “Consider those words when your choice comes.” He stopped after taking a few steps and clasped his hands behind his back. “The effects of your decision will have consequences beyond your understanding. Make your choice wisely.”
The stranger resumed his walk out of the hall. Lucious paused for a moment to unpack the elderly man’s plea before racing after him. He quickly caught the stranger, grabbed his arm, and stepped in front of him, blocking the elderly man’s escape. “Who are you?”
With a chuckle, the stranger eased Lucious’s hand from his arm and pulled Lucious closer to him. With a wink, the stranger reached up and patted Lucious’s cheek. “Who do you think I am?”
“The only option I’m reaching makes me sound like an escaped mental patient.” Lucious’s gaze flickered about the room, searching for unknown, yet attentive, ears. “What I think isn’t possible.”
“Of course you’re right, Lucious,” the older fellow said, clicking his tongue. With a grin, the elderly fellow pulled his cap on before pulling Lucious even closer. “Currently, the explanation circling through your mind is impossible. Much like a century ago, phones would have been considered sorcery.”
“How? Why? How?” Lucious asked as he reached out with trembling fingers.
“Such thoughts won’t assist your life,” the older individual said, his swishing finger serving as a barrier to Lucious’s questions. “As far as why? I’m here to make sure you tread the right path.” The older gentleman pulled a device from his pocket. “Remember those first thoughts.”
The stranger released Lucious and ambled into a thick patch of shadows. With a fatherly grin, he turned around and gave Lucious a smile as he waved goodbye.
In response to the wave, Lucious said, “Thanks future me.”
“Goodbye, Lucious,” he said, pressing a button. Between moments, the shadows swallowed Lucious’s older self.
Despite the scoff echoing in the hallway, Lucious grinned as he headed toward the exit, walking as if an enormous weight had been lifted from his shoulders. “It’s not often I can thank myself for sound advice.”