Melanie is up here now, we got back Sunday, and we’re fully unpacked. She did not have nearly as much stuff as I was expecting, all of the furniture at her place belonged to the landlord. That’s something I’m still adjusting to, how many places are furnished.
Elliot was great for most of the drive. When he was awake it was as much cooing and dancing to the radio as it was crying. He looks shocked in a good way whenever the drum solo from In the Air Tonight comes on, and it’s absolutely adorable.
When he slept, we’d talk low and keep the radio off. She’d rest her head on my shoulder, or hold my hand while we had long conversations about everything. We’d talk about what the future holds for us, and how I don’t really know.
She has a theory about her relationship with me. Not just hers, but Judy, and Ken and Hal, Elliot, all of the relationships that I’ve formed with people who I didn’t know about before traveling back.
“I think that we all ground you in reality and this time in a way that your family cannot. You know who they’re going to become, and what’s going to happen to them. You know their future and it’s untethered you from reality a bit. But then you have all of us, the people who were always living in this time that you didn’t know about, that you don’t know our futures. You didn’t know that Judy was going to be accused of murder, or how that trial will end. You don’t know if Ken and Hal will stay together or break up, or face tragedy. You don’t know if I even will survive until 2010. And that gives you a sense of normalcy. With us, you’re in the same basic boat.”
I think she is right, but the truth when it comes to her, is something I haven’t wanted to admit for a while. It wasn’t immediate when I met her, but I do know some of what will happen with her. I know because the memories came back to me. My parent’s friend had a girlfriend, and it took me a while to remember who she was. But I understand now that she was Melanie.
I have seen Melanie’s future. Do I tell her that? The fact that she sticks around long enough for me to form memories, that’ll make her happy, but should she know about her own future? Ugh… I don’t know.
Elliot isn’t in those memories, but I remember I had seen photos of him with that version of me, and Melanie. I don’t know what happens with him. I assume he goes back to Judy when she gets out.
When we got back, and got settled, we went and had lunch at the diner with my grandmother. I may talk to her about my memories of Melanie, but I haven’t seen her on my own yet.
She’s so happy when she sees Melanie, it’s clear that she desperately wants me to be happy, and between Melanie and Elliot and her, I am.
Michael Christopher Cole 
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