The Meeting

**Reader's discretion**

This chapter has reference of panic and anxiety attack. That may trigger some readers. The description starts and ends with **.

You can skip those parts if you want.

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Rachel couldn't justify what she saw. Her mind wasn't letting her process the incident. It took time to wrap around the idea of seeing someone from the future. What was bizarre was the part that the man from the future was presently her boss and had a fiancé in the present day.

"So Rachel, what do you think about the plan?" Ethan's voice floated across to her, putting all thoughts to rest.

Great. First day at work and I am already daydreaming. Way to get recognized at workplace.

Stuttering over words, her mind churned quick to devise something. "The plan..is.."

A voice came to her rescue, ""What Rachel wants to say is that it sounds great. And she would be happy to lead the charge."

Anna responded on her behalf, not only saving her from embarrassment on the first day of work but also paving the way for a future friendship.

She simply nodded to Anna's words. Ethan smiled at the new girl's willingness to accept challenging projects right away. As the team tailgated after the meeting, Rachel pulled Anna aside. She had more to say.

"Thanks for the help in there" a smile appeared on her face as she summoned the courage to open up to a complete stranger. It was unlike Rachel to do something like that.

Yet, she was taking baby steps into the world, fighting her insecurities and her troubles.

"No problem. I would have done the same for any other teammate. And I am sure you would have also done the same for us, if needed"

"Yes definitely" she swung her hand in acceptance of the newfound task of being a group member whilst accepting her mistake of nodding off in the meeting. "By the way, what am I in charge of.."

Anna's laughter was a full bloomed one knowing that her new colleague was literally not paying any attention in the meeting.

But what could Rachel tell her? Her mind was preoccupied with back to the future happening in reverse.

Anna took a deep breath placing her hands on Rachel's shoulders. "New project, where we will tap into new areas to expand business. And you are leading this one"

A new project wasn't something that Rachel had planned to get into on the very first day of her job. Thoughts began clouding her mind, making her question and doubting her ability to accomplish it.

Although the rest of the day went well, when it was time to leave, she called up her therapist.

"Hello Mr. Philip. By any change can I get a slot for late evening?"

Philip Kert was a person in his early sixty's. The salt pepper haired man and his expertise in calming Rachel though infinite number of phone calls and sessions had made him become one of her closest confidants. The man, although was a simpleton, his mansion and the degrees hanging on the walls justified the prestige and money he attained through his service.

"Good evening Rachel. Sadly I am all booked up.. But you have your slot for this Saturday as usual"

"But.. it's.. kind of urgent.. I don't feel well." she felt the panic raising in her.

"Practice what we talked about.. Let me see.."

The sound of paper being ruffled around followed by his calm tone eased Rachel.

"You can come by 8"

"Thanks a lot"

****

Rachel ended the call and rushed home. She had the trigger of an attack since morning. It all started initially when she was seven. Someone pushed her into a pool. She didn't know her way around water. Those precious lifesaving minutes when she drowned and her lungs kicked for air inside her chest still played in front of her.

Waking up palpitated and with nightmares had now become a normal part of her routine. Whenever she got worked up or was distressed, it got triggered again. Over a period of treatment and time, the healing too progressed simultaneously.

Opening the door to her apartment, she crashed onto the couch, breathing deeply. Although therapy has taught her how to tackle it, there were still bad days. Days when medicine is the only rescue.

Thankfully this wasn't one of those times. So deep breaths and concentrating on distractions helped.

****

Sitting in the therapist's office, Rachel wait for her turn. It's been five years since she has been in therapy and over a year when she started with Philip.

"Come in Rachel" Philip opened the door, ushering her in. She walked to her usual place and sat in her corner. Holding onto the pillow she'd held for over a year now, she waited patiently for Philip to start the session.

"Tell me, what happened today?"

"I saw someone today"

The knots she had made on the loose ends of the pillow over a period of time, were being twisted around as she spoke, apprehending that he might think she's going crazy.

However, all her did was a slight nudge for her to speak, "And.."

As fast as she could state a sentence, Rachel blurted out her current issue, "He said he is from the future and my husband, and then he vanished."

Philip nodded a couple of times, letting her vent her vulnerability. A sign of a good therapist was being an active listener.

"Did anyone else see him?"

Hesitantly, she looked away, tears brim her eyes as she continued; "I don't think so. I thought that I was being punked so I asked him to vanish and he did."

Philip looked at his notes intently before drawing his eyes back.

"Did you see him anywhere else other than today or before?" he smiled. And although the smile was reassuring, her hesitation on being judged by him still lingered.

"I swear I am not going mad. I have never seen that man before"

Gulping down the glass content next to her, she continued the unraveling of the day. "I got the job. He is my new boss. But I have never seen him before."

"Yes you told me about your job at Star finance"

Rachel nodded and smiled. Philip didn't refer to his notes to recollect where she got the job.

Straightening on his chair, he continued, "There are chances Rachel, that during anxiety our body tends to imagine some kind of let outs.. Do you think there is a possibility that you also experienced something like that?"

"Maybe, it's a possibility."

Philip's words made her feel better already. He knew about her history and was always been good at handling her stress situations.

After an hour of talks, all the bouts she felt during the day seemed to vanish. Feeling better after her therapy, Rachel happily walked back to her apartment.

The place has always been her little escape. She walked instead of taking public transport. She was an old soul, her uncle used to say. Once the flight of stairs lead her to her apartment door, it only took a few seconds before the key went in, followed by her.

The apartment was small and cozy but it's always served as a humble abode for her and her lifeline, Butter. Butter was a golden retriever puppy adopted when she had constant stress at the university and was spiraling. Now he had become an inseparable part of her life.

The click-clacks could be heard coming through her bedroom before he appeared. He instantly jumped onto the couch next to her, nuzzling her with his wet nose.

"Yes my baby.. I love you too"

He flopped on her lap for a while before running around the apartment playing with his chew toy. She leaned back enjoying the play. There were days when this was her Netflix and chill and a stress reliever too.

A soft knocking on the door with Butter's excitement got Rachel off her couch. She wasn't expecting visitors. Opening, she saw Ethan standing on the other side.

Not knowing what to say or the reason for his presence, she fumbled.

"Hey.. Ethan.. You want something.. sugar maybe"

'What is wrong with me? It's better to stay quiet than blurt out something stupid.' her thoughts taunted.

He laughed as she finished her sentence. The sound resonated through the corridor and boomed back. It was one of those infectious laughter which made everyone feel happy and warm.

"I am assuming you met me.. Because I don't remember telling you my name. Can I come in..?" he posed the question so beautifully that it would be hard for anyone to resist.

Rachel fumbled again.

"Oh.. me.. inside.. why"

"Because I want to talk to you"

"Okay, please come"

She turned around walking inside and Butter galloped. Wagging his tail, he rolled over the floor exposing his belly which Ethan obliged.

"My God Butter.. you are so small now!"

Rachel was surprised when Ethan referred to her dog by the correct name. She thought the timing would be apt to know if she was gone completely insane or just partially.

Because believe it or not, scenarios like this didn't happen to normal people.

"Umm..You know him?"

"Of course I know him. He is our baby"

Our baby. Is he for real? Or some sick show happening in my life.

Ethan stood up walking towards her. She move back before being stuck onto the wall.

He slowly held her hand before looking at her. "I know it's a little too much for you to digest. But trust me on this. I am not here to disturb your peace and not at all to hurt or harm you in any way". Entwining his fingers with hers, he continues; "but I also don't want you to have a panic attack now. I know your stress will lead to that."

"How do you.." her voice was a whisper

"I am your husband.. remember"

Controlling the smile and the blood rush emerging from the inside, she nodded while mustered up the courage to say, "Why are you here?"

Ethan leans a bit further, his smile made her heart pace up faster. "The reason I will tell you once you trust me completely. For now just believe me when I say, the future Rachel and Ethan needed me here."


***

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