You needed a replacement phone but were short of money, so you visited a nearby pawnshop. They only had one in your price range. It was old, but it worked and came boxed with a SIM card for a carrier you’d never heard of, but with a free £10 credit, you figured it must be worth trying.

The thing is, this phone has an odd quirk; to place a call, you must first dial a valid 8-digit time code in the order year, month, day.

What happens next?

The thing about being immortal is that you live long enough to see all things end; love is no different. It doesn’t stop your heart from hoping, though.

Him

He long ago swore off love forever. No matter how things began, he would live long enough to see it fail, be that by death, conflict, or his lack of ageing. These days he restores classic cars. At 122 years old, he thinks he is out of the dating game for good. He has amassed quite the collection, which he rents out mostly for film and TV use.

Her

When she was only a few thousand years old, she still dreamed of finding love to last to the literal end of time. These days she’s a bit more jaded. She feels disconnected from the modern world – her head is stuck in the seventies. These days she collects things older than she is. Her prized possession is her 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T. Spider. It has seen better days.

Him

He’s a romance author searching for ideas for his next novel. His idea of a fun evening is a cup of hot chocolate, under a blanket with his dog, watching old movies.

Her

She’s a “retired” spy trying to keep her old work life and her current cover as a fitness instructor at least somewhat separate. Her idea of fun is an aggressive game of paintball.

The Other Guy

He’s an ex-foreign agent who turned on his own country after falling in love with her. He is convinced the official story of her death is untrue. He will not rest until he finds her and ensures she is safe.

Today you woke up to discover that it is one year ago. Maybe the last year was “only a dream”? You have doubts.

What do you do next?