Joey 1997 _hot_ -

Joey looked down. His hands were starting to fade, like old film left in the sun.

Joey found the time capsule on a Tuesday, buried under the old sycamore tree behind his grandmother’s house. The tree had been struck by lightning the night before, splitting open like a book, and there it was: a rusted metal box with "JOEY 1997" scratched into the lid. joey 1997

Joey laughed nervously. August 17th was tomorrow. Joey looked down

The man smiled sadly. "You don't. You just become the one who buries the box for the next Joey. 1997 wasn't a date, kid. It was a loop." The tree had been struck by lightning the

At the top, the slide twisted into darkness. Joey hesitated, then let go.

That was his name. Joey. Born 1997. Same as the date on the box.