The Package

I KEEP DELIVERING THE SAME PACKAGE AND EACH TIME I FIGURE OUT WHAT IS INSIDE I SOON FORGET. I AM STUCK IN A LOOP AND THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO NOT LOOK IN THE PACKAGE.

I'm not even sure when this began. It could have been weeks, months, or even years ago. I am struggling to remember. My mornings start off the same, I deliver a package to the same house on [Street]. I knock on the door, and each time I am greeted by the pleasant older lady. She accepts her package and then offers me a couple of chocolate chip cookies. Before I leave, she whispers something to me that I can't seem to fully make out, but I just nod my head and laugh, and wave goodbye.

This might not seem out of the ordinary, but I have worked at the postal office for a couple of decades and this is not normal. Before ``

What is even stranger is that the package seems to be the exact same. It is the same size box, exact same weight. Very light as if nothing was inside. No sender.

So, curiosity got the better of me. I decided I was going to open the package up, and see what was inside and tape it back up. I didn't think she would notice due to her bad eyesight.

However, I could not have predicated what was inside. It was a note. This note. With a number at the bottom: 1205. Which means, this must be note 688.

At first, I thought I could just break the loop by not delivering it at all. That once I found out, I could just live as if I didn't know. But that is of course not how these things work.

She appeared in my dream. Well, it was a nightmare really. The roles were reversed. She was delivering a package to me. She knocked on my door, and I had cookies in my hand ready to offer her some. But when I looked at the package, everything changed. It was dripping blood. She had the same on her face as she usually did. I quickly accepted the package and tore it open to find the same note, but written in blood.

Whose blood, I am not sure. One thing that was horrifying, was that if it was me writing these notes then would I be forced to write the notes in blood? Butne thing I did know. If I didn't deliver the package to continue the loop, something bad would happen.

So, the next day, defeated, I I taped the package up, and made my way to the old lady's house to deliver the package. I wasn't sure what I was planning on saying to her. But, I didn't have to. When I knocked on the door, she opened it almost instantly and smiled at me. She saw the look my eyes and knew. "Ah, you've finally figured out again. Perhaps next time. See you tomorrow." And then, she took the package with the note and closed the door.

And that is all I can remember. After she shuts the door I am transported to my desk, pen in hand with the note mostly written. All I need to do is write the final piece, the number.

I believe if I hadn't ever looked inside the package, the loop would have never started. All I had to do just deliver the package and accept the weirdness of the situation. But, curiosity got the better of me. But part of me also thinks that I was always meant to open the package. Like the universe knows. BUT IT'S SO UNFAIR. IT FEELS LIKE A SETUP.

HOW MANY TIMES WILL I OPEN THE PACKAGE BEFORE I STOP? WILL IT EVER STOP? I AM LIVING A NIGHTMARE.