Most people complained about how their lives were predictable, however, Patrick’s world was anything but ordinary. A regular teenager by most accounts, Patrick harbored a perplexing secret. Every mirror he glanced into reflected not his teenage self but an older version—a grizzled man with lines of experience and eyes heavy with memories.

At first, Patrick thought he was hallucinating, but when the reflection began to move and act independently of him, he was both intrigued and unnerved. One day, driven by a combination of curiosity and fear, Patrick decided to communicate with this older self. He scribbled a note and held it up to the mirror, “Who are you?”

The reflection, with a knowing smile, wrote back, “I am you. Just… a little further down the road.”

Conversations with his mirrored self became a daily ritual for Patrick. They discussed life, regrets, and joys. The older Patrick often shared insights and advice from his years of experience, guiding the teenager through various life challenges.

One fateful evening, as rain pelted against the windowpane, the older Patrick’s demeanor changed. His face, more somber than Patrick had ever seen, carried an urgent message, “Avoid Elm Street tomorrow. Trust me.”

Confused but trusting the wisdom of his older self, Patrick heeded the advice and took a different route to school the next day. As he arrived, whispers of a terrible accident on Elm Street reached his ears. A car had skidded off the slick road, crashing into a tree right where Patrick would have been walking.

Shaken by the realization, Patrick raced home to confront his mirrored self. But as he gazed into the glass, he noticed something even more unsettling. The older Patrick looked significantly older than he did just a day before.

It dawned on Patrick that every interaction, every piece of advice, every change he made based on the older Patrick’s wisdom, accelerated the aging of his reflection. His actions were fast-forwarding his mirrored self’s timeline.

Tormented by this revelation, Patrick faced a soul-crushing decision. He could continue seeking advice, effectively trading years of his mirrored life for a more predictable present, or he could embrace the uncertainties of youth and allow his reflection to age naturally.

After much introspection, Patrick chose to face life’s challenges head-on, without the guidance of his older self. He covered the mirrors in his home and vowed to live every moment to the fullest, letting fate take its course.

Years later, as Patrick, now truly older and wiser, looked into a mirror, he saw only the reflection of the man he had become—a man shaped by choices, mistakes, and lessons learned. No longer haunted by what could be, Patrick lived in the present, knowing that every decision, every risk, and every challenge was a brushstroke in the masterpiece of life.