Daryl, a 20-year-old college student, saw himself—grayish, heavier, and fatigued.

"Daryl, I've come to steer you in the right direction."

"How so?" asked student-Daryl.

"No corporate jobs. Earn a Ph.D. Academia is your true calling!"

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

"Arf, arf, arf!"

"What's with the puppy?" asked student-Daryl.

"Uhm. I stopped by a rescue 20 years from now. She's your soulmate. Make sure she walks often."

"Hold on—this violates temporal causality if you're changing …"

"Multiverse." Older-Daryl shook a finger. "No paradoxes. Do you agree with me?"

Student-Daryl nodded, then older-Daryl immediately vanished.

The puppy licked Daryl's face as if she knew.