In Another Life | Prompt A Day - March 2025

Author's note: I will be using @rbhayes account for my journey back into writing from hereon.

shoutout to @shadowspub for the daily prompt (subscribe to her newsletter)

Fiction: A snow globe collector notices their newest acquisition shows real-time scenes from a parallel universe's version of their town.

Rowena had always been content staying at her studio on her days off, as her job required her to travel most of the time, she didn’t exactly have the luxury of settling long enough to build a strong connection with other people. Not to say she was alone though, of course she always had Bon to go home to – her not-so young cat who she rescued as an abandoned kitten almost 5 years ago. Other than him, she could say she was also quite attached to the snow globe collection she’d built from her past travels; this day’s new addition though was different from the rest.

She closely watched the familiar street inside the circular glass – there was the same antique shop on the corner where she had bought this snow globe on sale, the same yellow VM Beetle always parked in front of the fruit stand downstairs, and quite enchantingly, a detailed structure of her apartment building.

An innate urge had her shaking the snow globe in her hands, musing in irony how the ‘snow’ inside the glass drifted down much like how it was softly snowing outside her window as well, to her surprise however, a light flickered on in one of the miniature windows of her apartment replica. Her closer inspection of its interior had her almost dropping the snow globe itself, as there inside, was another tiny version of her and of Bon cozily curled up on his favorite spot on her chair.

Rowena had paid the snow globe no mind after that, thinking it a trick of her weary mind as the scene inside the glass was as normal as when she had first bought it from the antique shop. The first thing on her mind was getting Bon to the vet as he had not much of an appetite these past couple of days and had a wobble in his steps, she had considered begging off from an assignment that required her to travel for the next month until she had gotten a proper diagnosis on how to care for Bon.

Her drifting thoughts had her eyes focusing back on the snow globe that was like a replica of her own reality, the similar urge of shaking it yet again had her holding her breath – not so much surprised at seeing the lights once again turn on in her miniature studio, but rather at having to observe how her other self similarly worried at tiny Bon’s untouched bowl, cradling him in her arms as she paced by the window with her phone.

She too had an epiphany then as she reached out for her own phone, intending to make a call to postpone her travels from work. Rowena hoped her other self had done that as well.

Rowena let out Bon from his carrier as he scampered out and proceeded to hide in his favorite corner in their quaint home, she laughed and shook her head at how he’d probably ignore her for the next hour until he come back purring for a treat.

While still needing proper care and his added medication, Bon had fortunately gained back his appetite (and weight) in the past month, she could get back to travelling short-term assignments and also had an excuse to bring Bon if it was a longer period of being away from him.

As if feeling a pull to her cabinet that housed her snow globe collection, Rowena caressed the circular glass that encased her miniature reality, shaking it once again as if to make sure her other self was doing just fine with their own tiny Bon. Once the lights flickered on though, she hadn’t been prepared to see her other self holding what looked like a cat shaped urn, upon closer inspection on seeing the familiar collar that lined the container’s neck, she instinctively called out for Bon.

It was at that moment that her other self looked up, pass her miniature window and into Rowena’s own eyes, mouthing the words that she still heard as if she was also there, “Take care of him.” Before the lights went out.

Dumbstruck as she let the snow globe roll on the floor, it was only when she felt a soft warmth rubbing at her crouched legs had Rowena sat crossed legged on the floor, scooping Bon in her arms as she found solace in his purrs.

That was the last time she shook that particular snow globe.

Author’s Note: In memory of Bon who passed away on the 10th this month. I hope you’re more well taken cared of now and get all the treats, let’s meet at the Rainbow Bridge.