[ WP ] You have gone back in time to help your younger self become a better person by being their therapist , the only problem is that you ca n't reveal your true identity to them .

I was wearing that damn T-shirt that mum hated so much, which of course made me love it all the more. Across the front was what had always claimed was a photograph of an aborted baby, but even back then I knew it was just random red splotches with the words “ FUCK YOUR LIFE ” across it. 
 
 It was strange seeing myself from the outside, like watching a home movie or an old photograph, but real and in 3D, right in front of me. I remembered this day from the other side as well, this office, an old man standing behind the desk, but of course this time the man would be different, this time I would be seeing myself. 
 
 “ Come in Peter, I ’ m Dr Phillips, take a seat anywhere. ” I saw that immediate snarl of hostility that I had spent weeks perfecting in front of the mirror and my younger self flopped into the chair nearest the door. Interesting, I had originally chosen the chair nearest the desk as I had wanted to show the therapist I wasn ’ t scared of him – already it seemed there were changes from the original timeline, I wondered how far they would go. 
 
 My younger self was scowling and picking at the nail varnish that was flaking off. Just one of the many ways I was trying to make myself stand out, to hide from my old self. I knew the anger and resentment that the child was feeling – betrayed and sent to a therapist by a mother who din ’ t understand, didn ’ t seem to care what would happen to them, or what had already happened. 
 
 This was the moment I had come back for, that I had chosen this moment for. Changes to the timeline were possible, but they had to be well timed, or it had a habit of mending itself, somehow finding its way back to its original configuration. The future somehow made its way along, but some changes could still ripple through and I couldn ’ t risk not existing, that ’ s why it had to be now and not three months ago. 
 
 I moved from behind the table and walked over. “ Your mother is worried about you Peter. She sees you retreating from your family and friends, growing hostile and angry. ” 
 
 He, I, sneered. “ It ’ s just me man, I do what want. ” He looked away, not making eye contact. 
 
 “ Bullshit. ” I smiled at the way his head snapped around. “ You put this persona on as it made it easier to cope. ” 
 
 His mouth opened and closed a few times before he was able to weakly reply. “ I… I don ’ t know what you mean. ” Now he just looked weak, like the child he was. 
 
 “ Peter, there is something you have to see. ” He looked at me as if I was insane. “ Trust me Peter, I know about what happened three months ago and I want to help. ” He was unable to reply and all his bravado was gone and confused. I opened the door and he followed me, keeping enough distance between us to run. 
 
 I led him out of the office, down the corridor and into a second office that I had rented, along with every other room on the floor above and below. He paused at the outer door and I moved on in and opened the inner door, flicking on the light. 
 
 The walls were coated in plastic and the windows were covered to keep out any light or stop anyone seeing in. There was only a chair and strapped to the chair a figure. I heard Peter gasp and I looked back. He walked forward, looking dazed and at last looked at me. “ Why do you have my step dad here? ” 
 
 I smiled. “ You know why he ’ s here and I know what he did to you. ” I gestured into the room – he was tied securely to the chair, tape around his moth and eyes. “ Do what you want Peter, but leave your anger in the room. When you ’ re done I have a change of clothes for you. ” I gestured to some clothes in the outer room. 
 
 He looked again. “ I don ’ t… I don ’ t understand. ” 
 
 I crouched a little to his level, it would be another six months before he put on our last few inches of height. “ He will never be punished if he isn ’ t today. I ’ ll deal with whatever you leave in that room, this is your only chance to get even. ” 
 
 He looked again, seeing the knives and baseball bat leaning against the wall and slowly walked in and pushed the door shut behind him. A few moments passed and a muffled scream started that didn ’ t stop. Slowly I began to feel a felt a sense of closure and I knew that the boy who came out would be able to live a life better than mine. He would be a better me. 

