He lies in bed recovering from a cold.
He is holding a watch. He gave it away as a gift twenty-four years ago. Now he has it back. Its plastic crystal is melted away. Its face is scorched.
He shakes the watch. The self-winding rotor turns and ratchets. The watch starts ticking.
The phone rings. The voice is instantly
recognizable. It resumes a conversation long since
broken off.
- Who is this?
The voice carries on.
- Who is this?
Its rhythm remains unabated.
- Is that you?
The connection breaks up. The line is silent.