“Time loops in one hour. You’ll be brought back to this spot and you’ll have your memories, but everything else will be reset. Only what you put in this box will come back with you. Good luck.”

0h: Yeah, like I’m going to carry around that homeless guy’s shoebox all day.

1h: WTF. Box in my hand, everything looks the same, but that guy isn’t here.

2h: Okay so it wasn’t a seizure or whatever. This is happening.

3h: Cut on my arm disappeared, but the magazine is in my box. Markings still on it. It was the last copy at the news stand, but there it is on the shelf.

30h: Don’t need sleep, eat whatever I want, never see a credit card bill. Sweet.

31h: I should meet some ladies.

300h: Thirtieth time’s a charm, Carol.

301h: Maybe one hour isn’t enough time to build a connection with someone.

302h: I’m going to learn French!

312h: God I miss sleep. Not even tired enough for a nap.

378h: Fuck French.

400h: This is the loneliest I’ve ever been. Got to get back out there.

500h: First time meeting Susan. Feel like I’ve known her forever.

2,600h: I love her. How do I get her to believe me?

2,900h: …then we go to 14th street and I predict the lottery drawing, then I point to the arguing couple and quote them, then the seagull lands, then…

2,901h: Susan, I know this sounds strange, but here’s a letter you wrote me, and…

5,000h: My life feels so complete.

6,000h: The longer the letter the more we save from our past, but the less time we have for our present.

7,000h: I’ve lost track now. Five thousand first dates? I can’t do this anymore. You’ll never love me, not really, and I’m realizing I’ll never truly know you. But I’ll still love you.

7,001h: Sorry, didn’t mean to stare. No, we don’t know each other, you just look like someone I went on a date with once. Yeah, just one date.

7,002h: I should figure my way out of this. Go back to the library, learn math, learn physics.

7,205h: Fuck math. Seriously, fuck math.

7,206h: Been standing on this ledge for a while, must be close to an h—

7,207h: —was that a flash?

7,245h: …so combining the flashes I saw on this map, the lines intersect here, so the explosion must come from…

7,246h: These guys look tough.

7,247h: So death resets me too. Good to know, but it means there’s only one way out.

7,292h: Wow they keep fucking up these cops. Guess I’ll have to do it myself.

7,312h: God damn this is hard. Need to train.

12,821h: I know gun-fu.

14,021h: …then that guy comes from the right, and—

14,022h: …then that guy comes from the left, and…

14,999h: THAT’S HOW IT’S DONE

1h…: Thanks for the explanation. Can I keep the box?

…and counting: Sorry for staring. Yes, we have met. I have this letter…