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Day 1: You plan and set up for success. Find a motorbike so you can weave through the frozen cars. Figure out how to get fuel. Presumably, shelter and water aren't problems. You need to think ethically about food sources as there's no way you have enough in your pantry. Plan out: What do you want to accomplish for yourself and your loved ones.
Day 2: You fill the day with learning. A day well spent.
Week 1: The fun is wearing off. Loneliness is already setting in. You motorbiked to an amusement park, the contorted bodies of tourists frozen in squeals of laughter as the roller coaster twists around a bend. The ice cream was nice. You gave yourself a giant scoop and then caught a droplet of someone else's ice cream in midair. That was interesting, but you have no one to share the memory with. You sigh. 499 years, 11 months, 3 weeks to go. You come across a child about to lose their balloon. You pull the balloon closer to them and tie a gentle loop around their wrist. You spend the 'night' in a mansion.
Week 2: You've read three books so far. Time to change things up and go exploring in restricted access areas.
Month 1: You enjoy going on foot in small areas more than riding endlessly on your motorbike and have gotten to know the neighbourhood and centre of town extremely well. Every service entrance at the mall - you took a key card from the janitor and placed it back into his pocket. You briefly wonder if the security cameras will catch a flash you.
There's a staff parking lot you're exploring today. You've been entertaining yourself by trying to match people's keys with their cars. The first time you did this you took 4 at once and may have mixed them up when returning them to the owners' pockets. That will confuse them when they wake up! At that thought, you decide to amuse yourself by playing a few pranks. You swap people's hats. Then, you place new outfits on people, move their arms to weird positions, place a stray cat in a lady's arms, scribble "I love unicorns" in pink markers on a tattooed guy's forehead, and put a flying pigeon into some kid's backpack. You feel bad about the bird. You put it in a garden near your motorbike instead. The parking lot, that's right!
Underground, glass crunches under your feet. The shadows seem to move, though you know that's impossible. Something feels... off. This creepy parking lot is the last place in the mall for you to explore. You turn a corner. Someone's there. Staring menacingly straight at you. Knife in hand. You freeze, then realise that they already have. Heart still beating quickly, you notice it's more like they're looking through you than at you. You follow their gaze. There's a woman. She's looking, worried, over her shoulder. High heels, you note. There's no way she's outrunning this guy. You angrily snatch the knife out of his hand. No. Not good enough. You leave to collect what you need.
Hours later, when you'd usually be sleeping on the mansion's Ultra Comfort Super Duper King and Courts feather mattress (trade marked), you arrive back at the lot. You wrestle the stiff policeman off your motorbike and position him to witness the crime. You place an entire armed squad in the staff parking lot. Originally, you weren't going to relocate anyone, but now you have other ideas. You take a camera from the tech store and snap a photo. Even better idea: You hit record and clearly pan from the sneering man to the worried lady. You then find the lady some pepper spray and place it in her manicured hands. Still angry, you want to do more. You take a breath. Hands shaking, you leave.
Later, lying on your back, staring at the slit of sunlight that always enters the vast room, you reevaluate your 500 year plan. What if instead of merely upgrading your skills and knowledge for when time restarts, you fix the town now? Heck, the region. You have time. And you can learn anything about anyone. Open any drawer. Read over their shoulders. Find their passwords, their secrets, their needs, their dreams. What if, when everyone wakes up again, it's to a better world? Sleepless, you grab the camera and stuff it into the backpack with your day gear. You strut outside again. You have work to do.
Year 200: It's amazing what you can get done when purpose is your only companion. You smile wistfully, wishing for the millionth time that someone, anyone else shared this time freeze with you. In your hometown, the streets are clean. Realising there was more crime than police, you duplicated the camera files, put people in a holding cell, and left a note: All the evidence you need is here. The memory cards on the desk have all the receipts. Being a lawyer is about to be even more lucrative.
You've written up invention ideas from your culmination of knowledge, intense drive, and thirst for problem solving. Stray animals are safely in the shelter, waiting in the once-empty cages with raw meat, toys, and fresh water. You've made sure that some pockets contain notes about adoption.
You can't wait until everyone sees the notes you've left in their pockets: "Your daughter is wishing you would call her. She forgives you." "Your husband is secretly a dangerous drug dealer. Get out while you can." "Your idea will change the world, if you only pursue it. Start by call 0800 12345 678 and ask for Steve Williams." "Your keys are under the fridge. You're welcome" eh. Some notes are better than others.
You always thought you'd learn a new language. 200 years in, you realise if you wouldn't prioritise it with 50 years left then you never will. It's hard when there's no one to practice with.
You've written your book. You printed out a copy for yourself. You look forward to the realise date. It's just for fun. You already know what's happening in the business world because of the projections and reports you've read.
Your body is toned now, from all the walking and heaving criminals into jail cells. Your mind is sharp, albeit sometimes depressed and lonely. I signed up for this. You remind yourself. I've already done so much good. Sighing, you add another item to your "When the world wakes up again list" See a sunset. Hug Mum. Tell a joke. Smile at the next driver who cuts me off, because I can't wait to not be the only one on the road. You add: Spend a day a week at the retirement home. Those people deserve company. You're a better person now. One day, there will be a point to your personal development. One day... I can't wait to start growing old again.
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