As Rudy walked towards the convenience store where his mother, Rebecca, worked, he had a good 15-minute walk to ponder his impending reunion. Thoughts swirled in his mind, and he contemplated the various ways he would interact with her. But there was one question that loomed large: should he tell her that he had time-traveled, or should he keep it a secret?

His initial instinct was to keep it a secret. After all, he didn't want to worry his mother unnecessarily, and the idea of explaining the complexities of time travel seemed daunting. However, as he continued his walk, another thought tugged at his mind.

Would keeping it a secret really be the right choice? Would it be fair to hold back something so significant from his mother? Rudy's optimism and honesty ultimately swayed him, and he decided that he should tell her the truth.

But then, a new thought crossed his mind. Even if he told Rebecca that he had time-traveled, would she believe him? Did he have any valid proof to back up his extraordinary claim? Rudy's optimism faced a test, but he was determined not to let negative thoughts overshadow his decision.

With a determined spirit, Rudy continued his walk to the convenience store, his mind set on reuniting with his mother.

As Rudy walked through the town, he couldn't help but notice the small changes that had occurred since he had last seen it. The alterations, though subtle, left him pondering the extent of transformations that might have taken place on a global scale. It raised a multitude of questions in his mind about the state of the world, but for now, his priority was to reunite with his mother, Rebecca.

Upon reaching the convenience store, he peered through the window and spotted Rebecca working as a cashier. His heart swelled with emotion at the sight of her. Rudy knew he had to wait a moment outside to collect himself.

Rudy stood outside, taking deep breaths and allowing his emotions to settle. He couldn't believe he was finally so close to seeing his mother again after all these years.

When he felt ready, Rudy entered the store and approached the counter where Rebecca was working. She was busy with a customer, and it wasn't until a brief lull in her duties that she noticed him.

"You're here!

" Rebecca exclaimed, her face lighting up.

"What was that earlier on the phone? Did something happen at school?

" Her concern was evident.

Rudy simply stared at her, his emotions getting the best of him. He couldn't find the right words to explain his extraordinary journey, and instead, he offered a warm, heartfelt smile. The words would come in time, but for now, the most important thing was that he was finally home, standing before his mother, the woman he had missed so much.

Rudy found himself in a moment of uncertainty, unsure of what to do next. He had come to the store to see his mother, Rebecca, and had achieved that goal. Now, he pondered what reason he could provide for his presence and what the next step should be.

Rebecca, sensing his hesitation, asked with curiosity,

"So...? Are you going to tell me what's going on?

"

Rudy longed to embrace his mother, to feel her warmth and presence, but he grappled with his own uncertainty. While it was entirely normal for an 18-year-old son to hug his mother, Rudy wasn't mentally prepared for the encounter. He felt like he was an older version of himself trapped in his 18-year-old body.

Moreover, the situation was asymmetrical. To Rebecca, it was just another day, and she had likely seen him earlier in the morning, while for Rudy, it was a momentous reunion after years apart.

Rudy collected his thoughts and replied,

"I came here to buy something from the store, and I couldn't wait for you to finish your shift and come home. So, I decided to stop by and say hello.

"

While Rudy was in the store with Rebecca, he couldn't help but ponder the subtle changes he had noticed, such as her shift at the store. In the previous worldline, Rebecca had worked multiple jobs, often late into the night, just to make ends meet. She had primarily worked the night shift at Eleanor's store.

He refrained from asking her about it directly, as he wanted to approach the matter with more tact. Instead, he decided on a different course of action.

Rudy selected some snacks from the store's shelves, placing them on the counter for purchase. Rebecca began ringing up the items, but Rudy stopped her, saying,

"Let me pay for these. Consider it a little treat from me.

"

Rebecca smiled, appreciative of his gesture.

"You don't have to do that, Rudy. I can pay for them with my wages.

"

Rudy glanced at his mother and decided to subtly broach the topic that had been on his mind.

"What time will you be home, Mom?

" he asked casually.

Rebecca replied,

"I'll be home by evening, just like always.

"

Rudy nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response. He began to piece together the subtle changes he had observed, connecting the dots. It appeared that in this worldline, Rebecca was working a day shift at Eleanor's store instead of juggling multiple jobs. It was a more favorable situation for her, and Rudy couldn't help but feel relieved for her.

As their time in the store came to an end and his departure imminent, Rudy set aside his thoughts and gave in to his heart's desire. He reached out, pulling his mother into a warm, tight hug. Rebecca was surprised, but she couldn't help but smile as she hugged him back. It was a simple, innocent moment of a mother and son sharing an embrace or was it? But surely, it carried a significance that only they could understand.

Rudy left the store shortly after, his heart filled with a sense of joy and contentment at having been reunited with his mother, even if the circumstances surrounding their reunion were shrouded in mysteries of time and alternate realities.

"Oh, I forgot to tell him that 'she' is coming home today…

" Rebecca muttered.