Soon after leaving, Kaitlin swears as flashing lights come on behind her. She pulls over to the side of the road and soon an officer is signaling for her to lower her window.
"Hello officer, what is the problem?"
"I was going to tell you your tail light was out. But now I'm more concerned about the lack of a carseat for your passenger."
"I'm sorry this is my neice," Kaitlin switches to a whisper, "her dad was in an accident at work so my sister had to go to the hospital. We forgot to move the carseat before she left."
"Ok let me see your licence and registration. As long as there's nothing outstanding I'll let you off with a warning, but you better go get one up immediately."
Kaitlin pulls out her license and unlocks her glove box to get the registration. Once she hands them over, the officer squints at the picture and at Kaitlin. He then shrugs and walks back to his car.
"Do you think he believes you're you?"
"I hope so if he doesn't we're in a lot of trouble."
A few minutes pass and the officer returns. He hands back the paperwork.
"Everything checks out. Drive safely now."
The officer leaves and soon after his car drives off. Kaitlin's hands are still shaking when she goes to return the registration and she knocks the dice case out. It falls to the floor and pops open.
"Shit!"
"Twenty seven years you have walked this Earth. Now this number is but sixteen. Each roll of the dice returns more of what you have lost."
Laura leans forward to see her friend reduced a high school sophomore. The petite teenager looks comical in her old clothes. Laura imagines now both of them would look out of place at the office now.
"At least you're still old enough to drive."
"Ha ha, very funny. You're happy I'm closer to your age aren't you?"
"No! Of course not! We aren't going to get back to normal any easier if we end up twins!"
The two fall silent as they realize they sound more like bickering sisters than grown woman. Kaitlin speaks first.
"You're right we need to stay on the same page if we're going to get back to normal. Let's just figure out the best way to do that."