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The loud, persistent knocking at the door just about made you jump out of your skin. You glanced at the clock at the bottom of your computer screen. “It’s nearly midnight. Who the heck would be visiting now?”
You pulled your blanket tighter across your shoulders and ambled toward the door, mumbling about how nobody has any common courtesy anymore. “Could have at least texted.” The knocking became more and more insistent. “I’m coming! Keep your pants on! Geeze!”
You peered through the peephole and nearly choked. Someone had to be playing a trick on you. Your friends were always teasing you about your Elvis “obsession” and you wouldn’t put it past any one of them to pull a stunt like this.
“Ok, how much did they pay you?” you inquired as you yanked the door open.
The man just stood there with a look of shock on his face, fist in the air poised to unleash more raps against your door.
“An Elvis impersonator? Really?”
That woke him up. “Impersonator? What the hell! I ain’t no impersonator!”
You put your hand to your chest dramatically, “Oh, my apologies, I forgot. ‘Tribute artist’.”
Anger and confusion radiated from the man. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“I have to admit, though, you’re a good one. Very convincing.” He did look every bit like Elvis, you thought to yourself. 1969/1970 era. The silky blouses and the soft, tousled hair. You couldn’t help the peculiar feeling that fell over you while staring at what appeared to be a near-replica of the real thing.
“You got a screw loose or something, lady?”
Well, that was uncalled for. You made to slam the door in his face, but he put out his hand to block it, holding it open against your pushing back. “Wait, wait, wait. I’m sorry. That was…that was rude.”
You let go of the door and pulled your blanket tighter. “Damn right it was rude.”
The man shook his head and sighed. “I, I don’t know what is happening. I’m all outta sorts. I’m in town for a show at the Omni, and I left the venue to go for a walk and it’s like everything changed. Like I’m in some other dimension.”
Your eyebrows knitted together. “Are you drunk?”
“What? No!”
“High?”
The man threw his hands in the air. “I don’t know what to tell you. I just…” he shook his head, “maybe I just got turned around.”
The more you looked at him, the more you couldn’t deny that this man looked almost too much like Elvis. You didn’t know if he had surgery or what. If he did, that surgeon should win all the awards.
Against your better judgement, you stood to the side and motioned for him to enter your home.
He smiled warmly. “Thank you.”
You led the way to the living room. “I’m sorry it’s such a mess. I wasn’t expecting anyone.”
You bristled to yourself when you took in the books and papers strewn across the coffee table and the floor. You quickly made an attempt to gather everything and hide it away.
“It’s ok.” He was just about to take a seat when he noticed your laptop sitting open. He picked it up, turning it around in his hands, inspecting it. “What is this?”
“No, no, no…” you gently removed the item from his hands, lest he accidentally delete your work. “Lets put that down.”
He looked down at the floor. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
You plopped down on the sofa, unceremoniously, and patted the seat next to you.
When he was seated and now at your eye level, you couldn’t help but let out a small gasp. It was uncanny. Not uncanny valley uncanny. Just straight up uncanny. There wasn’t a flaw on the man’s face.
Feeling your gaze, he turned his head to meet your eyes. You cleared your throat, quickly looking away. “This doesn’t make sense.”
He let out a soft, almost wispy laugh. “You’re telling me.”
It couldn’t be real. You were dreaming. Of course. You had to be dreaming. When you think of someone as much as you did Elvis, it was inevitable that he would invade your dreams.
“What year is this?” He had a magazine in his hand, staring intently.
“2022.”
You watched as he dropped the magazine like it had suddenly burned his skin. “Can I use your phone?”
You winced to yourself at the thought of handing him the flat, rectangular device, so you lied. “I don’t have one. I’m sorry.”
He silently stared down at his hands for the longest time. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded strained and dry. “Can I ask you something?”
You hesitated a moment. If this is real, which, it can’t be, he could ask something that would be absolutely earth shattering for him to hear the answer to. Besides, if you did give him any answers about what his future held, would that disturb some sort of sacred time line? Throwing all caution to the wind... “Sure.”
Thankfully, for the good of your own heart, he kept his head down as he asked, “If you did have a phone, there wouldn’t be anyone for me to call, would there?”
You didn’t know how to answer. He could still call Lisa Marie, or Priscilla, or Jerry. He still had friends and family who were living. But you knew that wasn’t what he was really asking.
When you didn’t respond, he sighed. “How old am I when it happens? Is it painful? Am I alone?”
You can see his hands shaking as he continues asking questions regarding his passing. You placed a hand on his arm and he stilled. “Oh, sweetheart, do you really think that you want to know all of that?”
“It’s not really fair that you know and I don’t.” He placed his hand on top of the one you still had resting on his arm. “Look, I know I’m not going to get old. It’s always been a feeling that I’ve had.” He leveled his gaze with yours. “I just need to know that I left behind something people can remember me for.”
You didn’t realize tears were sliding down your cheeks until you felt Elvis’s thumb gently swiping them away. As unbelievable as it was, you accepted that this really was Elvis.
“You know, I’ve been to your house.” Elvis held one of your hands between his. The warm softness was comforting and grounding.
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s about a five-hour drive from here. If we left now, we could make it there before it opens for the day.”
“Opens?”
You stood up, pulling him to his feet with you. “You’ll see. Just, let me change and then we can get on the road.”
Once in your bedroom, you hastily threw on some jeans and a sweater, not knowing if the man would still be in your living room once you returned. What if this really was just a dream?
Thankfully, you found him walking around your living room looking at various pictures on the walls. “Did you take these?”
You walked up beside him and smiled. “Indeed, I did.”
He extended a hand, reverently touching one of the photos. “Graceland.” His voice was barely above a whisper.
You boldly took one of his hands in yours. “You’ll be home soon.”
Once settled in the car, and Elvis was finished fussing over “all this new-fangled technology,” you were on your way.
He spoke in bursts. For miles and miles, you would drive in silence, and then he would talk non-stop for a long while.
Around the half-way point, you pulled into a gas station. Once you were finished filling the tank, you leaned back inside, “I’m gonna run in for a minute. You want anything?”
Elvis was fiddling with the touch screen. You smiled, just managing to hold back an “aww,” when you noticed his tongue peeking out of the side of his mouth as he concentrated.
He looked up at you, processing for a moment. You swore you could see little wheels spinning behind his eyes. “Oh! Yes, I’ll take a Pepsi and some smokes.” He reached into his wallet and pulled out a five-dollar bill.
You stifled a laugh as you took the money he offered, knowing the cigarettes alone would cost more. “Be back in a minute.”
As you walked around the convenience store, you spotted a section with ball caps and jackets, and it hit you. “I can’t just take a thirty-five year old Elvis to Graceland looking like he just stepped out of rehearsals.” You grabbed one of the caps and a jacket and made for the register. “What is my life?”
Once back in the car, you handed Elvis your purchases. “What is all this?”
“When we get closer to Graceland, put those on. We don’t want to cause chaos.”
Elvis hummed to himself thoughtfully. “Thank you for doing this.”
You pulled back out onto the highway. “No, thank you! Gives me a reason to go back to one of my favorite places.” You gave him a sideways glance and a smile.
He stared at the Pepsi bottle as if he were looking at a two-headed cat.
“Twist the top.”
The unmistakable hiss of carbonation filled the air and Elvis laughed. “Lots on changes, man. Lots of changes.”
You spent most of the remainder of the ride making small talk and reminding Elvis he had to keep his seatbelt on.
As you approached the Memphis County line, you pulled off to the side of the interstate. “You should probably go ahead and put those on.”
He slipped off the jean jacket he was wearing and replaced it with the jacket you had purchased. You reached over and smoothed his hair back before placing the cap on his head.
Elvis stared at you with pure adoration in his eyes. It made your heart stutter. The urge to lean forward and press your lips to his was overwhelming, and you knew he would be probably be receptive, but you also knew that in the world this Elvis came from, he was still very much a married man.
You righted yourself in your seat and stared at the welcome sign. “I feel like I need to prepare you for a few things.”
Elvis reached over and took your hand in his, feeling the need to hold onto something to steel himself.
“You’re going to hear and see things that are going to be hard to deal with.” You took a deep breath. “Your life…you go through a lot of changes. You deal with a lot of heartache.” Elvis tightened his grip on your hand. “But, believe me when I tell you this, you are so loved.” Your voice cracks. “And…so... missed.”
Out of the corner of your eye, you see Elvis wiping his own tears from his eyes.
After a few moments of sitting in silence, you clear your throat, not trusting your voice to work. “Let’s get going then.”
Once back on the road, you repeatedly glance over to take in the wonder on Elvis’s face as he takes in all of the changes that have happened to his beloved Memphis. When you turn onto Beale Street, he places a hand on the window, trying to touch the past.
The sun is just starting to bleed through the night sky signaling the dawn of the new day as you slowly turn onto Elvis Presley Boulevard.
You pull into a space in the parking lot and turn to Elvis. “Do you want to try to go inside and take the tour, or we can just walk up to the Meditation Garden? Whatever you are comfortable with.”
Elvis breathed in a deep, shuddering breath. “I don’t know what to do.” He turned to look at you and you could see a hint of sadness resting in his tired eyes. “I’m scared.”
You reached over and patted his knee. “We’ll start in the garden and take it from there.”
You and Elvis made the walk up the hill to the Meditation Garden. You didn’t know what kind of reaction to expect from the man. At the edge of the garden, he grabbed your hand tightly, trying to find purchase, feeling as if he were going to float away if he didn’t tether himself to you.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It really is.” You lead him around the fountain before pausing in front of him. Holding both of his hands in yours, you looked deeply into his eyes. “This is one of those things we talked about earlier. Just...be prepared.”
He nodded once before you lead him to the gravesite.
You could hear him trying to take deep, steady breaths as he looked at the scene before him. “Forty-two. Damn.”
He looked over at the other stones. “Hey, Mama, Daddy, Jesse.” He noted another plaque. “Who is Benjamin?"
You squeezed his hand gently. “He’s your grandson.”
Elvis shook his head solemnly, and took a seat on the bench opposite the gravesite. “This family…I don’t think we were made for true happiness. Not for long, anyway. There are moments, but they never quite overcome the sad times.” He lifted his red eyes to look into yours, “Just tell me everything.”
So, you did. Every last detail you were privy to.
Then you took out your phone and pulled up videos of fans all over the world talking about how much they love and adore him. You sat there for an hour going through videos while Elvis watched in awe with tears flowing freely down his cheeks.
“There is one more video I want to show you.” You brought up the trailer for a movie simply called “Elvis”.
“People all over the world, of all ages, have watched this movie, some over 20, 30, 40 times! This sweet boy, Austin, honored you from his very heart and soul.”
You sat the phone next to you on the bench and grabbed both of Elvis’s hands in yours. “You are loved! You are remembered! You have made so many people happy! People come from all over the world to see Graceland and pay their respects.” You paused for a moment before continuing, “Look, I don’t know if you will remember any of this when you get back to when you came from, but, even if you don’t, I hope that you will be able to feel it, somehow. During those low points, during the happy times, even! I hope that you can feel this moment and know, somehow, that your legacy, your beautiful legacy, will live on forever!”
You gasped as Elvis pulled you to him and held you tightly. You could feel him trembling in your arms. You clung to him until he was calm and ready to let go. When he looked at you, there was a light in his eyes that wasn’t there before.
You heard someone softly humming and noted another person sitting on a bench nearby, sipping from a coffee cup. You were almost certain your eyes were deceiving you when you realized who it was.
You weren’t really sure what to do.
Something told you to remove yourself from this moment because it was no longer yours. “Hey, um, I need to get something from the car. Will you be ok here by yourself till I get back?”
The man smiled at you and brought your hand to his lips for a soft kiss. He knew this was actually goodbye. “Thank you.”
You smiled at him and stood to leave. Before walking away, you turned back to him for a moment. “Remember. Somehow, some way, remember.”
“I will.”
Again, you turned to leave, but stopped. When you turned back around there was Elvis, in all of his Elvis glory. His arm around his very much alive daughter as they laughed together. Gladys sat on the other side of her son.
You wanted to stop time and freeze life into this moment in a perpetual loop.
Elvis turned to look over his shoulder at you and smiled the most brilliant smile you had ever seen.
It took everything in you to finally walk away. You knew no one would ever believe this happened. Heck, you hardly believed this happened.
As you drove back to Atlanta, you replayed every moment in your mind. You just hoped that it really wasn’t a dream that you would soon awake from.
When you arrived home, you headed straight inside and to bed.
That evening there was a loud, persistent knock at the door. The eerie feeling of deja-vu sent chills up your spine. You pulled your blanket tight around your shoulders and made for the door. You sighed, somewhat disappointed, when you peered through the peep hole.
“Where have you been? I’ve been calling you since last night!” Your best friend Shannon pushed past you and went into the living room.
“I’m sorry. I got so wrapped up in my writing that I didn’t even realize the time passing.”
“At least text a girl next time.” Shannon plopped down onto the sofa. She leaned forward and picked up a piece of paper from the coffee table. She shook her head as she read it. “Lord, woman! You writing letters to yourself as Elvis now?”
“What?” You took the paper from your friend’s hand. “Oh.”
“This is getting a little out of hand, dontcha think?”
You tried to play it off and laugh along. “Haha, um, yeah. Hey, let me go get dressed and we can go grab dinner. Sound good?” You gave your friend a thumbs up which she returned in kind.
Once locked away in your bedroom, you carefully read the note to yourself.
“You know, I never got your name. I’m sorry. I’m sure that whatever your name is, it’s beautiful just like you.
Right now, you are asleep in your bed and I am sitting in your living room. Don’t ask how I got here. I don’t even know.
It’s only been a day in your lifetime, but I’m already a few years older in mine. Time’s a funny thing.
I just had to let you know, I remember.
Now, I don’t remember everything. Apparently if you know exactly how your life is going to go, it screws everything up, but I remember the feeling. The feeling of love. The feeling of reassurance. The feeling of your hand in mine.
Things aren’t so great in my life right now, but I cling to that feeling I promised you I would always remember.
I think that if you were in my timeline, my life would be a lot different. I wish you were here. But things work how they’re supposed to, not always how we want them to.
Until we meet again, Sincerely Yours,
Elvis”
You clutched the letter to your chest, using your blanket to wipe away the tears cascading from your eyes.
Remembering Shannon waiting out in the living room, you washed your face and put on make-up hoping to hide the evidence of your emotions. You dressed comfortably, then slipped on Elvis’s denim jacket. It still smelled like him.
“Ooo, I like that jacket. Vintage. Nice!” Your friend looked you over and smiled. You could tell she was up to something.
“What?”
Shannon smirked. “Oh, nothing.”
“Yeah right. What do you have planned?”
Shannon jumped up, clapping her hands excitedly when she heard the doorbell ring. Oh god, you thought to yourself, she set me up on a date.
“You remember Robbie?” Shannon asked, practically skipping to the door.
You sighed and followed along. “Yes, I remember Robbie.”
Shannon paused at the door and beamed at you. In a sing-song voice she said, “Robbie has a friieenndd.”
“Oh goo…” The words died on your tongue the second the door swung open. Somewhere in the deep, dark recesses of your mind “This Magic Moment” began playing.
“Hey, Shan, Hey Y/N. This is my bro, Austin.”
A thousand watts paled in comparison to the brightness of the smile you were greeted with.
In the tiny piece of your brain that had yet to turn into jello, you wanted to think that you heard wedding bells go off, but really it was just a little alarm reminding you that one day you just might have to explain to the handsome fella in front of you that you had shown the trailer for his film to Elvis Presley.
But you’d cross that bridge when you got there.
Shannon and Robbie giggled and held hands while you and Austin made small talk on the walk to a bar not far from your house.
You nearly choked on your own spit when Austin said, “I really like your jacket.”
“Ha, ah, um, this old thing?” You could feel the heat spreading across your cheeks.
“Yeah, looks kinda familiar actually.”
You kept your eyes on the ground. “Familiar?”
“I remember it from somewhere…some how.” He gently took hold of your hand and squeezed. When you looked over at the man walking beside you, he winked.
You tried not to lose your balance even though you felt like you would pass out, or away…either one would be appropriate at the moment.
“Hey, Robbie,” Austin called out. “Why don’t you and Shannon go on ahead and get us a table. We’ll be there in a minute.”
Shannon practically squealed with delight at the thought of you and Austin hitting it off so quickly.
You watched as the pair disappeared into a building about a block away.
Austin lead you over to a bench situated in a small park.
You laser focused on a lose thread hanging from one of your jacket cuffs. You didn’t know what to do, what to say.
After a few moments, you managed to find your voice. “Are you...”
“No,” Austin replied before you could finish the question. “I’m not him. At least, I don’t think I am.” He twirled the ring on his right hand as he considered his words. “I have flashes. Memories. Ones that aren’t mine to have…it scares me sometimes. But, it’s usually kinda comforting.”
“That’s why you play him so well,” you smiled up at him.
A small laugh escaped his lips as he gently took one of your hands in his. “I do remember. He did remember.” Squeezing your hand for emphasis, he continued, “I know none of this makes sense, but you deserve to know that you made a difference in his life.”
You brought your other hand up to your mouth, stifling a sob.
“The kind, beautiful unnamed girl that made him feel something so strongly that it stayed with him through the low points…”
“And during the happy times,” you rasped out through your tears.
He gently placed a hand on the side of your face and gazed into your eyes. “If I have your permission, I think he would want for me to kiss you now.”
You nodded and slowly, tenderly, he brought his lips to yours.
Behind closed eyes, you saw soft, jet black hair, chiseled cheekbones, and blue oceans that could bore into your very soul. A beautiful vision from the past.
When you opened your eyes, you saw soft, sandy blonde hair, chiseled cheekbones, and blue oceans that bore into your very soul.
You saw your future.