“Hey, hun? Are you okay?” Blinda asked kindly. “Press the button to open the door.” 

Button? Philo thought. Which one? There were so many that seemed to do a thousand different things. He had no idea what to do. He was so tired, so confused. And now, he was getting increasingly claustrophobic. The bright walls, slim cabinets, and bowls of hygiene products were closing in to suffocate him. He was going to die in this mini futuristic toilet trap! Philo sat down on the white bowl’s lid. He put his face in his hands, but the room still felt like the inside of a whirling blender. Everything was spinning and closing in on him. Philo never felt lonelier than in this moment. He finally understood that he wasn’t sleeping; he really was in the future! Philo couldn’t help himself as the tears started flowing, no matter how hard he tried to hold them back. Xendo and Blinda heard him whimper. 

“Oh! Philo! Don’t feel bad, it’s okay!” Blinda tried her darndest to leak maternal love through the door. “We know you’re nervous—” 

“We are too!” Xendo chimed in. 

Philo sniffled. Were these wackos really all he had? Both mother and son strained to hear Philo with their ears plastered to the door. Philo looked up from his hands. He rubbed the tears off his cheek, defeated. 

“Just take me back!” Philo pleaded in a soft sputter. “I don't belong here!” 

“Oh, sweetheart. I know you don’t see it now, but you do belong here,” Blinda tried to reason through the metal. “You will find new passions that challenge you and friends who love you.” 

“Also, there’s no way Pearl will let us use the portal again,” Xendo scoffed. 

Philo heard Blinda slap Xendo’s shoulder through the door. 

“All I know is my past world; I don’t understand this future!” Philo cried. “How do you know this will all work out?” 

“Honestly, we don’t,” Blinda responded. “But now, we are in this together!” 

Xendo assured, “Whatever happens, Philo, we’ve got your back! And so will the superintendent, she’ll help us find out what really happened to your parents and my dad!” 

“You’re Ava’s son, Philo, which means we’re family now,” Blinda said, tears welling in the corners of her eyes. “And don’t you forget it!” 

“Oh gosh, Mom, don’t cry again!” Xendo groaned. 

“I am feeling emotions right now. I am trying my hardest!” Blinda snapped back as she wiped her eyes, sloshing Philo’s cup of water on herself. “Oh great! Now I’m out of water.” 

Xendo started chuckling. Philo smiled. 

“Okay. Okay. I can handle this.” Philo tried to calm himself. He had to move forward. 

“Which button do I push?” Philo asked. “I have no idea what I’m looking at.” 

“On the screen, swipe until you see a menu of options,” Blinda instructed. Philo gestured through even more futuristic articles that made absolutely no sense. The screen labeled “Menu” eventually came into view. 

“All right, I did that,” Philo responded. “Now what?” 

“There should be a button that says, ‘Open Door.’ Hover your finger over that and the door will open,” replied Xendo curtly. “It’s not that difficult, really.” 

The door opened up, revealing Philo’s shocked expression and his finger still pointing toward the futuristic menu screen. 

“There you go!” Xendo chuckled. 

Blinda rushed to give Philo a big hug and Xendo joined in. The hug wasn’t forced, premeditated, or some sort of cruel joke. They embraced Philo with warmth and friendship. The lingering hug gave Philo a flooding of contentment he hadn’t felt in a long time. In fact, he couldn’t remember ever being hugged like this. It was vulnerable and awkward but pleasant at the same time. He melted into their kind embrace. He wondered if this would become a habit of theirs. Philo decided he wouldn’t really mind if it did. 

Blinda kissed Philo on the forehead. “Let’s take you home.”