Each week, I send out a story via my email newsletter. Each story is around 1000 words, sometimes less, sometimes more. The stories are in a variety of genres: supernatural, thriller, sci-fi, horror, and sometimes romance, and all of my stories typically feature a gay protagonist.
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This is story number 22 of the series. Enjoy!
The Alley of Yesteryear
Parker fumbled with his keys, cursing under his breath as he struggled to unlock his apartment door. It had been a long day at the office, and all he wanted was to crash on his couch and binge-watch his favorite sci-fi series. As he finally managed to open the door, his phone buzzed with a text from his boyfriend, Dillon.
“Hey babe, running late. Pick up some milk on your way home?”
Parker sighed, glancing at the time. 10:30 PM. The corner store would be closing soon. He typed a quick reply, “Sure thing. See you soon.”
Grabbing his wallet, Parker headed back out into the cool night air. The streets of New York City were never truly quiet, but at this hour, the usual bustle had died down to a low hum. He walked briskly, his footsteps echoing off the buildings.
As he rounded the corner into a narrow alley—a shortcut he often took—Parker felt a sudden chill run down his spine. Something felt off. Before he could react, a figure emerged from the shadows.
“Give me your wallet,” a gruff voice demanded.
Parker froze, his heart racing. “Look, man, I don’t want any trouble—”
The attacker lunged forward, and Parker felt a sharp pain in his head. The world spun, and then everything went black.
When Parker came to, he was lying on the ground, his head throbbing. He blinked, trying to focus his vision. Something was different. The alley looked… cleaner? And was that the sound of a horse-drawn carriage?
Stumbling to his feet, Parker made his way out of the alley, only to stop dead in his tracks. The New York City he knew was gone. In its place was a scene straight out of a history book. Classic cars rolled down the street, men in fedoras and women in pillbox hats strolled by, and a newsboy on the corner shouted headlines about the Vietnam War.
“What the hell?” Parker muttered, drawing curious glances from passersby.
A nearby newspaper stand caught his eye. He grabbed a paper, his eyes widening as he read the date: July 4, 1965.
“Hey, you gotta pay for that!” the vendor shouted.
Parker fumbled in his pockets, realizing with a start that his wallet was gone. “I… I’m sorry, I don’t have any money.”
The vendor’s eyes narrowed. “Then beat it, kid.”
Dazed, Parker wandered down the street, his mind reeling. How was this possible? Time travel wasn’t real… was it?
As he walked, trying to make sense of his situation, he bumped into someone. “Oh, sorry, I—”
The words died in his throat as he looked up into the most striking pair of green eyes he’d ever seen. The man they belonged to was tall, with wavy brown hair and a kind smile.
“No harm done,” the stranger said, his voice warm. “Are you alright? You look a bit lost.”
Parker laughed nervously. “You have no idea. I’m Parker, by the way.”
“Oliver,” the man replied, extending his hand. “Can I help you find your way?”
Before Parker could respond, a group of rowdy men stumbled out of a nearby bar. One of them pointed at Parker and Oliver.
“Hey, look at these two fairies!” he shouted, eliciting laughter from his friends.
Oliver tensed beside him. “We should go,” he said quietly.
As they hurried away, Parker felt a mix of fear and anger. He’d heard stories about how tough it was for gay people in the past, but experiencing it firsthand was jarring.
“I’m sorry about that,” Oliver said once they were a safe distance away. “It’s not easy being… different.”
Parker nodded, a lump forming in his throat. “Yeah, I’m starting to realize that.”
Oliver studied him curiously. “You’re not from around here, are you?”
“You could say that,” Parker replied with a wry smile. “Listen, this might sound crazy, but… what if I told you I’m from the future?”
Oliver’s eyebrows shot up. “I’d say you’ve had one too many, friend.”
“No, really,” Parker insisted. “I know it sounds insane, but I swear I’m telling the truth. I’m from 2025. I got mugged in an alley and woke up here.”
Oliver was quiet for a moment, then burst out laughing. “You know what? That’s the most interesting pick-up line I’ve ever heard. Come on, time traveler, let me buy you a coffee. You look like you could use one.”
As they sat in a small diner, Parker tried to convince Oliver of his story, sharing details about the future that seemed to both fascinate and skeptical his new friend.
“So, in your time, men can marry other men?” Oliver asked in a hushed tone, his eyes wide.
Parker nodded. “Yeah, and it’s not a big deal. Well, mostly not a big deal. There’s still some prejudice, but it’s way better than… this.”
Oliver’s expression turned wistful. “That sounds like a dream.”
As they talked, Parker found himself drawn to Oliver’s quick wit and gentle nature. In another time, another place, he could see himself falling for someone like him.
But as the hours ticked by, a creeping panic set in. How was he going to get back to his own time? To Dillon?
“I need to find a way home,” Parker said, running a hand through his hair.
Oliver’s face fell slightly. “Right, of course. Any ideas how?”
Parker shook his head. “I don’t know. Maybe if I go back to that alley…”
They made their way back to where Parker had first appeared. The alley looked the same as before, dark and uninviting.
“Well, this is it,” Parker said, turning to Oliver. “Thank you for everything. You’ve been… amazing.”
Oliver smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. “It was my pleasure, Parker from the future. I hope you find your way home.”
On impulse, Parker leaned in and kissed Oliver softly on the cheek. As he pulled back, he saw a mix of surprise and longing in the other man’s eyes.
“In my time, that wouldn’t be such a big deal,” Parker said with a small smile.
Oliver touched his cheek, a faint blush coloring his face. “Maybe I was born in the wrong time.”
With a final goodbye, Parker stepped into the alley. He closed his eyes, hoping against hope that when he opened them, he’d be back in 2025.
Nothing happened.
Parker opened his eyes, disappointment washing over him. The alley looked exactly the same.
Just as he was about to give up hope, he heard a commotion at the entrance of the alley. A group of men, including the ones from the bar earlier, had cornered Oliver.
“Thought you could get away, did you, fairy?” one of them sneered.
Without thinking, Parker rushed forward. “Hey! Leave him alone!”
The men turned, momentarily surprised by his appearance. Parker used that moment to grab Oliver’s hand and run.
They sprinted through the streets of 1965 New York, hearts pounding, hands clasped tightly together. As they rounded a corner, Parker felt a strange sensation, like the world was tilting on its axis.
Suddenly, the sounds of the city changed. The smell of exhaust and street food filled the air. Parker blinked, finding himself back in the familiar New York of 2024.
But he wasn’t alone. Oliver stood beside him, looking around in awe and confusion.
“Parker?” Oliver gasped. “What… where are we?”
Parker laughed, a mix of relief and disbelief washing over him. “Welcome to 2024, Oliver.”
As they stood there, hands still intertwined, Parker’s phone buzzed. A text from Dillon: “Where are you? Is everything okay?”
Parker looked at Oliver, then back at his phone. He typed a quick reply: “Something came up. We need to talk.”
Turning to Oliver, he smiled. “How about that coffee now? I think we have a lot to discuss.”
Oliver nodded, his eyes shining with wonder and possibility. “Lead the way, time traveler.”
As they walked off into the bustling New York night, Parker couldn’t help but feel that sometimes, the most unexpected detours lead us exactly where we’re meant to be.
THE END