[ WP ] `` Rule # 1 of meeting a future version of you : Never assume that this is your first meeting . ''

It was a few weeks ago when it happened the first time. They always said that you'd never recognize yourself if you met your doppelganger, but I had n't believed it. I guess I still do n't. 
 
 He came to me looking worn down. `` It did n't work,'' he said, much to my confusion. This strange man, much older than me, just waltzed right up to me and acted like he knew me. But he did n't even seem to know that it was strange for me. 
 
 `` It did n't work, and I think we're out of time,'' he continued. 
 
 Understandably, I questioned him. Or, really, I tried. He was thin-lipped, since we were in public, but the madman seemed frantic. All I gathered before he fled was that something had failed, and I had to do something about it. That, and he loved pronouns. 
 
 And honestly, if that had been it, I would n't have cared about him. 
 
 Not a week later, he came back. Much more refined, actually. But this time, I was at home, and he let himself in. That alone nearly got him arrested, but for some strange reason, I did n't call the police. 
 
 `` I think we're close,'' he assured me. `` They have n't caught on yet. We can still save everyone.'' 
 
 `` Save everyone from what?'' I asked. `` What are you talking about? Who are you? And where did you run off to last week?'' 
 
 He shook his head. `` Next week. Erm... I guess it's *your* last week. But -'' 
 
 ``'My last week'?'' I asked nervously. He shook his head. 
 
 `` Not'final' week, your'last' week. Like, a week ago. For you.'' 
 
 `` What?'' 
 
 He raised an eyebrow. `` Wait... did we meet for the first time last week?'' he asked. 
 
 I stared, admittedly. It seemed like the answer should've been really obvious. `` Yeah,'' I said, drawing it out. `` How would you not know that?'' 
 
 He acted like I'd hit him in the gut. And I was beginning to consider it, if he did n't start making sense. 
 
 `` I need to explain a lot, then,'' he said quietly, before looking back up at me. `` We do n't have forever. 
 
 `` First of all, I'm you. From the future. I know, it's not an easy thing to swallow, but you'll realize I'm right eventually.'Rule # 1 of meeting a future version of you: Never assume that this is your first meeting.' That's what you told me, anyway. Or, a future you. A past me, mind you. Erm... let me start over. I've been being careful to go a bit farther back each time I come to this time period. So, last week, I see you for the last time. And probably around next year, I'll see you for the first time. And then eventually, you'll be going back in time to see a past us. Any of this making sense?'' 
 
 I eventually grasped what he was saying, even if it did n't quite make sense in that moment. `` But what's going on in the future? 
 
 `` It'd take me a week to explain everything, but basically, it's a perfect storm. Science, politics, terrorism, and war, with a few earthquakes thrown in. Now there's a dictator, and time travel is n't something anyone really wants to happen. Y'know, chaos theory. And that was our plan. If everything had to go right to make it all go wrong, maybe the butterfly effect can save us. Maybe we can mess something up by trying to do what nobody should ever do.'' 
 
 ___________ 
 
 Over the next year, I became pretty used to his visits. At first, he suggested larger changes, like changing how a parade was supposed to play out. But as time went on, he began to get more and more petty, even going as far as simply moving a mug or stapler. And then, one day, he came to me acting very secretive. 
 
 `` We need to talk,'' he whispered urgently. I nodded, and followed him without a question. After leading me to a rooftop, he looked around frantically, and got a little too close for comfort. `` Okay, so I know this is going to sound crazy, but I'm actually you from the future.'' 
 
 I nodded. `` I know. We've done this before.'' 
 
 He seemed confused. 
 
 `` Rule # 1 of meeting a past version of you: never assume that this is your first meeting.'' 
 
 He shook his head. `` But I would know if I'd met a future version of myself.'' 
 
 I shrugged. `` Maybe *you* did n't. Or, maybe I wo n't remember. Heck, maybe your future wo n't happen any more.'' 
 
 His eyes widened. 
 
 `` Look, here's the plan, okay? Use the'butterfly effect'. Or, try to. Small changes that build up. That's the idea. A paradox would be great.'' 
 
 He stepped back. `` That's an awful idea! Do you have any idea -'' 
 
 `` What could go wrong?'' I finished for him. `` From what you've told me, everything already goes wrong. It can only go *different*.'' 
 
 The concern on his face slowly shifted as his mind worked. `` That... that might actually work,'' he said slowly. 
 
 I nodded. I opened my mouth to tell him to only appear reverse-chronologically, but... I shut my mouth with a smile. There's no way he'd do that without my warning, and maybe what we really needed *was* a paradox. What could possibly go wrong?
