Author’s note: despite sharing the same name the characters of Zoe and Robin are most definitely not me. She was lucky that I even answered the phone. “Hello,” I said, still half asleep and squinting at the bright column of light pouring in through the window. “Now listen to me very carefully because it is damn hard to make a call like this,” her voice cut sharply through the background static, “You’re me, and I’m you but from a world where things go just a little bit differently.

I went for a run by the beach this morning. The ocean breeze was nice on my skin, and the early rays of the sun lit the world in pastel color. I’m not usually the type to talk to strangers, but today felt different. I saw her leaning up against the railing of the boardwalk, gazing out at the ocean. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” I said “Yes, yes it really is.” She responded, “What brings you out here?