Silent Witness

Chapter 1: A Chance Encounter

Matt, tall, handsome, and with his blonde hair shining. He liked his life ordered, neat, and in control. He was a 27-year-old man who had everything he ever dreamed of—a beautiful wife, Niomi, and two lovely daughters, Amelia, 4, and Kate, 2. Life was good, simple, until one ordinary day changed everything.

He was walking down the street when he saw a white blur rush toward him—a fluffy Samoyed dog. Its tongue lolled out, tail wagging happily. Matt froze. He wasn’t a fan of dogs. He thought about crossing the street but the dog was too fast. The next thing he knew, the dog was sniffing around him, wagging its tail excitedly.

“Go away,” Matt muttered, quickening his pace.

But the dog persisted, following him as he tried to escape. Panic set in as Matt started to run, glancing over his shoulder to see the dog joyfully chasing him. He saw the entrance to a subway station and darted inside, hoping the dog would lose interest.

As he jumped onto the train just before the doors closed, he thought he had finally escaped. But to his dismay, the dog leapt inside at the last second. Matt sighed in resignation. Clearly, this dog wasn’t going anywhere. He sat down, and the dog plopped down beside him, panting happily.

“Fine,” Matt muttered, looking down at the dog. “I guess you’re coming home with me.”

Chapter 2: A New Family Member

Niomi’s face lit up the moment Matt walked through the door with the Samoyed trotting at his heels. The dog’s fur shimmered under the light, its eyes bright with excitement.

“Oh my gosh, Matt, he’s beautiful!” Niomi exclaimed, immediately kneeling down to pet the dog.

The dog responded by licking her face, tail wagging furiously. The sight of his wife bonding so easily with the animal melted some of Matt’s hesitation. Even Amelia and Kate squealed with joy, running up to the dog and wrapping their tiny arms around its fluffy neck.

Matt sighed. “Well, I guess he’s staying for a while.”

The dog’s collar had a name—North—engraved on it, but no other information. No address, no phone number. Over time, North became part of the family. Matt couldn’t deny the happiness the dog brought to his kids and Niomi, especially during tough times.

Niomi had been dealing with some medical issues, and during her recovery, North stayed by her side like a guardian. He seemed to sense her pain, resting his head in her lap whenever she felt weak, comforting her in ways Matt hadn’t expected from a dog. Months passed, and the dog remained a loyal companion. Niomi recovered, and life returned to normal—or at least, as normal as it could with a boisterous Samoyed running around the house.

Chapter 3: The Microchip

Two years had passed since North had unexpectedly joined their lives. Amelia was now 6, Kate was 4, and North was truly part of the family. One day, Matt decided to take North to a mobile vaccination program at a local park. While there, the vet scanned North for a microchip as part of the standard procedure, and to Matt’s shock, the vet found one.

“You might want to check this out,” the vet said, handing Matt a piece of paper with an address and a name. “Looks like he’s already got an owner.”

Matt felt a heavy weight settle in his chest. North had been with them for two years. How could they say goodbye now? His daughters loved the dog, and so did Niomi. Yet, as much as it pained him, he knew the right thing to do was to return North to his rightful owner.

Chapter 4: A Familiar Face

Matt stood nervously at the door, North sitting obediently by his side. He rang the doorbell, and after a few moments, the door opened. Standing before him was a woman he never expected to see again—Milli.

Matt’s heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t seen Milli in years, but there was no mistaking her. She was North’s original owner.

“You?” Milli gasped, just as shocked. Her eyes softened as she spotted North. “Where did you find him? It’s been two years…”

Matt took a deep breath, trying to remain calm. “I’m sorry,” he began. “I didn’t know he belonged to anyone. We only just found the microchip.”

Milli knelt down, her eyes welling up with tears as North ran to her, licking her face just as he had done with Niomi. She hugged the dog tightly, and for a moment, Matt saw genuine relief in her eyes. Yet, an undercurrent of unease rippled through him. How had their paths crossed again?

Chapter 5: The Reunion

A few days after the encounter, while Matt was playing with his kids in the park, they spotted North with Milli. Niomi, curious, walked over and struck up a conversation with her.

“I just wanted to thank you for letting North stay with us for so long,” Niomi said warmly. “He’s been a blessing for our family.”

Milli smiled, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “I’m just glad to have him back.”

The two women exchanged phone numbers and agreed to meet again. Milli was invited to Matt and Niomi’s house for lunch, and though Matt tried to stay calm, something about seeing Milli again unsettled him.

Chapter 6: Secrets Unveiled

The day Milli came over for lunch, Matt could barely hold his composure. As he played with the kids and North in the backyard, he kept glancing nervously at the house. Inside, Niomi and Milli chatted casually over lunch preparations.

“Tell me about your family,” Niomi asked kindly.

Milli hesitated. “I… don’t really have anyone. My husband died a few years ago.”

Niomi’s expression softened. “I’m so sorry to hear that. Matt mentioned it… I had no idea.”

Milli froze. “Matt mentioned it?”

Niomi nodded. “Yes, he knew somehow. I guess someone must have told him.”

Milli’s suspicion deepened. When Matt came back inside, Milli asked him directly, “Did you know my husband?”

Matt’s heart raced. He shook his head. “No, I didn’t.”

But Milli’s intuition told her otherwise. She let it go, for now, but something didn’t feel right.

Chapter 7: A Dark Truth

Milli couldn’t shake the feeling that Matt was hiding something. That night, she began researching him, digging into his past. After hours of searching, she discovered the dark truth: Matt was the same man she had hired three years ago through a middleman to kill her husband. She realized North had recognized Matt’s scent from the night her husband was killed.

The realization hit her hard. Her mind raced, wondering what to do next. But before she could make a decision, she felt a presence behind her. She turned to find Matt standing there, a gun in his hand.

“I didn’t want any trouble,” he said, his voice cold. “I just needed money for Niomi’s treatment. I wasn’t going to hurt you.”

Chapter 8: A Deadly Confrontation

Milli’s heart pounded as she stared at Matt, her mind racing. She had a gun hidden in her desk, and as Matt took a step forward, North suddenly lunged at him, knocking him off balance. In the chaos, Milli grabbed her gun and fired. Matt, with one last effort, pulled the trigger on his own weapon.

They both collapsed, the sound of gunfire echoing through the quiet night.

Chapter 9: Moving On

In the end, only North was left as a witness to what had transpired. The police arrived, and the investigation pieced together the grim truth. Niomi and her children were heartbroken, but in time, they adopted North back into their family.

Life went on, and though the pain of losing Matt would always linger, Niomi and her daughters found solace in North’s presence. The loyal dog had witnessed love, betrayal, and loss, but he remained their steadfast companion—until the very end.

The Future That Never Came

The Future That Never Came

A Sci-Fi Short Story

By: Bino Oommen Samuel

Chapter 1: A Perfect Life

Kennith had it all—or at least he thought so. At 25, he was tall, athletic, and undeniably handsome with his dark hair and confident demeanour. His girlfriend, Fiona, was the envy of his peers. Slim, beautiful, and five-foot-seven, she was everything a guy could dream of. They had met in college, where Fiona first noticed his sharp mind. She admired his intelligence, and over time, managed to make him fall for her. Life was moving smoothly, but something always gnawed at Kennith—an unsettling sense that things weren’t meant to be this perfect.

Chapter 2: The Unexpected Visitor

It was a quiet Friday evening when Kennith’s life took an unexpected turn. He was sitting in his apartment, thinking about the future, when there was a knock at the door. Kennith wasn’t expecting anyone, so he hesitated before opening it. Standing on the other side was a man who looked eerily familiar—too familiar. It was Kennith himself, just five years older. The shock nearly knocked the breath out of him.

“You’re…me?” Kennith stammered, his mind racing. The future version of himself nodded calmly, as if this bizarre situation were completely normal.

Chapter 3: Proof of the Future

At first, Kennith thought he was being pranked. This had to be a joke. But then the older version of himself began answering questions—personal ones—about his childhood, his darkest secrets, and even small details like what Fiona had said to him the night they first kissed. These were things no one else could possibly know.

“I’m you from five years into the future,” Future Kennith said, his voice filled with urgency. “I’m here to help you avoid the biggest mistakes of your life.”

Chapter 4: The Warning

Kennith sat on the couch, still in disbelief. “Why are you here? What do I need to do?”

Future Kennith leaned forward. “First, you need to break up with Fiona. She’s not good for you. She’ll betray you eventually. Trust me, I know.”

Kennith’s heart sank. He loved Fiona. They had been through so much together. “And what else?” Kennith asked, trying to process this bombshell.

“You need to take every cent you have and invest it into Bitcoin,” the older Kennith continued. “It’s going to skyrocket in value. You’ll become incredibly rich, but only if you follow my instructions exactly.”

Chapter 5: A Difficult Decision

For the next few hours, Kennith wrestled with the future version of himself’s advice. Could he really end his relationship with Fiona? And was it smart to invest all his money into something as volatile as Bitcoin? But the future him had been so convincing, and the answers to the personal questions proved he was telling the truth.

After a sleepless night, Kennith made his decision. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life, but he also didn’t want to ignore a warning from his future self.

Chapter 6: Breaking Up

Kennith called Fiona and asked her to meet him at their usual spot in the park. He hated what he had to do. When she arrived, her face lit up with that familiar smile, but it quickly faded when she saw the seriousness in his eyes.

“I don’t know how to say this,” Kennith began, struggling to find the right words, “but I think we need to break up.”

Fiona’s face twisted in shock and disbelief. “What? Where is this coming from?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Kennith tried to explain without revealing the truth about his future self’s visit. “I just don’t think we’re meant to be together in the long run,” he said, knowing it sounded weak.

Chapter 7: Heartbreak

Fiona was devastated. She pleaded with Kennith to reconsider, but he stood his ground, feeling awful inside. As she walked away, tears in her eyes, Kennith’s heart ached. But he reminded himself that this was necessary for his future.

He returned home, opened his laptop, and made the bold investment his future self had instructed him to make. He sold all his stocks and savings, and threw every dollar into Bitcoin. Now, all he could do was wait.

Chapter 8: The Waiting Game

Days turned into weeks. Every morning, Kennith would check the value of Bitcoin, hoping to see the rapid growth his future self had promised. But nothing happened. The stock barely moved. He tried to keep himself busy, but his mind constantly drifted to Fiona. She was seeing someone else now, someone who seemed to make her happier than he ever did.

His confidence began to waver. What if the man he saw wasn’t really his future self? What if the entire encounter was a lie?

Chapter 9: The Fall

As time passed, Kennith grew increasingly frustrated. One day, after weeks of no change in the stock, he couldn’t take it anymore. He withdrew all his money from Bitcoin, accepting a loss. At least he still had some of his savings left, even though they were diminished.

Then, just days later, Bitcoin soared. Its value quadrupled overnight, and Kennith’s heart sank. He had pulled his money out too soon. He had missed out on the fortune he had been promised.

Chapter 10: Doubt and Paranoia

Kennith was beside himself with anger and regret. How could he have been so foolish? He had listened to some version of himself that may not have even been real. What if the man was an imposter? Was time travel even possible? Kennith spiraled into doubt and paranoia.

He began obsessively researching time travel theories, desperate for an explanation. If his future self had known what would happen, why hadn’t he come back again to warn him about pulling out too soon? Something wasn’t adding up.

Chapter 11: Attempts to Fix the Past

Frustrated and filled with doubt, Kennith decided to reinvest the small amount of money he had left into Bitcoin, hoping for another surge. But the market was unpredictable, and nothing happened. The value remained stagnant.

His personal life wasn’t faring much better. He couldn’t get Fiona out of his head. Against his better judgment, Kennith tried reaching out to her again. But Fiona was done with him. She told him to stop contacting her and blocked his number.

Chapter 12: Arrest and Rock Bottom

Desperate for some closure, Kennith went to Fiona’s apartment to confront her in person. It was a terrible mistake. He ended up causing a scene, and Fiona’s new boyfriend called the police. Kennith was arrested and spent a night in jail.

As he sat in his cell, he reflected on how his life had unraveled so quickly. His future self’s visit had caused nothing but chaos. His relationship was over, his financial situation was in ruins, and now he had a criminal record. Could things possibly get any worse?

Chapter 13: A Plan for the Future

When Kennith got out of jail, he vowed to never let his emotions control him again. He came up with a new plan. This time, he would protect himself from making rash decisions. He generated a random password for his Bitcoin account and wrote a piece of code that would send him the password in two years. He locked the account, ensuring he couldn’t touch the money, no matter how tempted he became.

This decision brought him some relief. He felt that, for the first time, he was regaining control of his life.

Chapter 14: Second Thoughts

Four days later, Kennith was already second-guessing his decision. What if he had locked himself out of the account for no reason? What if the stock crashed again and he couldn’t pull his money out in time? His anxiety gnawed at him, and he began to regret everything.

Kennith started borrowing money from friends and invested in a different stock, hoping to make a quick profit to alleviate his stress. But it was another disaster. The stock plummeted the very next day, and now he was deeper in debt than ever before.

Chapter 15: Desperate Measures

Kennith’s financial troubles spiraled out of control. The people he had borrowed money from started demanding repayment, and some of them were far from friendly. They threatened him, giving him only days to come up with the money. Desperate, Kennith sold off what little he had left—his car, his furniture, anything of value.

In the process, he met a woman named Emily who was also in trouble with the same people. She had made some bad investments and owed money to the same loan sharks. Kennith, feeling a sense of responsibility and seeing a reflection of his own struggles in her, helped her escape from them.

Chapter 16: A New Connection

Emily was grateful for Kennith’s help, and the two quickly grew close. For the first time since breaking up with Fiona, Kennith felt a genuine connection with someone. Emily was different—she understood what it was like to struggle, to make mistakes, and to fight for a second chance.

As their relationship blossomed, Kennith felt like his life was finally starting to stabilize. He had paid off his debts and was waiting for his Bitcoin account to unlock in one year. Things were looking up.

Chapter 17: Redemption in Sight

A year passed, and the day finally arrived when Kennith received the password to his Bitcoin account. He logged in and found, to his delight, that the stock had soared. He was a millionaire. The relief and joy he felt were indescribable.

With half of his newfound wealth, Kennith bought a house and a car, and with the other half, he reinvested in Bitcoin, locking the account again for another three years. He and Emily moved in together, and for the first time in a long while, Kennith felt like his future was secure.

Chapter 18: A Chance Encounter

One afternoon, while out with Emily, Kennith ran into Fiona. She was single again, and it was clear that things hadn’t worked out for her. She looked surprised to see him, and after some awkward small talk, Kennith couldn’t resist taking a dig at her.

“I’m doing pretty well these days,” he said with a smug smile. “Bought a house, a car… I’ve got everything I need. Funny how things turn out, isn’t it?”

Fiona tried to hide her discomfort, but Kennith could see the regret in her eyes. For once, he felt like he had the upper hand.

Chapter 19: A Nagging Question

Despite his success, one question continued to nag at Kennith: Why didn’t my future self come back again to tell me when I made those mistakes? If his future self had warned him once, why hadn’t he returned when things went wrong? The more Kennith thought about it, the more unsettled he became.

Then it hit him—What if I don’t make it to five years? What if I die before I can become that future version of myself?

Chapter 20: The Final Moment

Kennith’s heart raced as the terrifying thought took root in his mind. What if his future self had vanished after time traveling because Kennith was fated to die?

Just as this realization dawned on him, Kennith stepped off the curb to cross the street. He didn’t see the train until it was too late.

In that final moment, Kennith understood why his future self had never returned. He was never meant to make it that far.

The End