Since the beginning of time

He grabbed an umbrella and ran into the rain, wearing a long brown trench coat, a hat, and carrying a briefcase.

Running late—as usual. Not his fault this time, though no one was going to believe him anyway.

While trying to flag down a taxi, he stepped into a puddle and soaked his socks.

When he reached the building, he knocked on a section of the wall, glanced back to make sure no one was watching, then unlocked a hidden panel with a key.

Inside was a staircase. He hung up his hat and coat and climbed the steps, removing his shoes and socks as he went.

“It’ll be okay,” he said, sitting down on the couch. “Everything that’s happening has been waiting to happen since the beginning of time.”