The Sixty-Second Oracle

Marcus Blackwood had always been different, but it wasn't until his 30th birthday that he realized just how unique he truly was. It started with a fleeting vision—a cup of coffee tipping over, spilling its contents across his pristine white shirt. Exactly one minute later, as he reached for his mug, the scene played out in perfect synchronicity with his vision.

At first, Marcus dismissed it as déjà vu, a trick of his mind. But as the day wore on, more visions came, each precisely sixty seconds before the events transpired. By nightfall, he was convinced: he could see the future, but only one minute ahead.

For weeks, Marcus kept his newfound ability a secret, testing its limits and reliability. He discovered that the visions were involuntary, appearing without warning and showing only events directly related to his immediate surroundings or actions. It was both a blessing and a curse—foreknowledge that was tantalizingly brief yet undeniably powerful.

As a financial analyst at a prestigious firm in New York City, Marcus quickly realized the potential of his gift. In the fast-paced world of stock trading, sixty seconds could mean the difference between fortune and ruin. Within months, he had amassed a small fortune, his uncanny ability to predict short-term market fluctuations earning him a reputation as a prodigy.

But with great power came great responsibility, and Marcus soon found himself grappling with the ethical implications of his advantage. Was it fair to use his ability for personal gain? Where did he draw the line?

These questions weighed heavily on his mind as he sat in his corner office, overlooking the bustling streets of Manhattan. The gentle hum of his computer was interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Come in," Marcus called, straightening his tie.
His assistant, Sarah, entered, her face etched with concern. "Mr. Blackwood, there's someone here to see you. She doesn't have an appointment, but she's quite insistent."

Before Marcus could respond, a vision flashed before his eyes: a woman with fiery red hair bursting into his office, her green eyes blazing with determination.
Exactly sixty seconds later, the scene unfolded. The woman pushed past Sarah, her gaze fixed on Marcus.

"Mr. Blackwood," she said, her voice steady despite her dramatic entrance. "My name is Dr. Olivia Reeves. We need to talk about your... unique situation."

Marcus felt the blood drain from his face. How could she possibly know? He nodded to Sarah, who reluctantly closed the door, leaving him alone with the mysterious Dr. Reeves.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Marcus said, trying to keep his voice level.
Olivia's lips curled into a knowing smile. "Oh, I think you do. Your ability to see sixty seconds into the future. It's quite remarkable, really."

Marcus's mind raced. Another vision came: Olivia reaching into her bag, pulling out a file filled with charts and graphs. He blinked, returning to the present moment.
"How do you know about that?" he demanded.

"I'm a neurologist specializing in temporal lobe anomalies," Olivia explained, reaching for her bag. "Your case caught my attention when I noticed patterns in your trading behavior that defied statistical probability."

She produced the file Marcus had foreseen, spreading its contents across his desk. "These charts show your trading activities over the past six months. The precision of your predictions is, quite frankly, impossible without some form of precognition."
Marcus stared at the evidence before him, his carefully constructed world crumbling. "What do you want from me?"

"I want to help you understand your gift," Olivia said, her tone softening. "And I want to study it. You're not alone, Mr. Blackwood. There are others like you, each with varying degrees of precognitive abilities. I believe you could be the key to unlocking the mysteries of time itself."
As she spoke, another vision struck Marcus. He saw himself agreeing to participate in Olivia's research, shaking her hand. The weight of the decision pressed upon him, even as he knew he had already made it.
Exactly one minute later, Marcus found himself extending his hand. "Alright, Dr. Reeves. I'm in."

The next few months were a whirlwind of tests, experiments, and revelations. Olivia's research facility, hidden away in upstate New York, became a second home to Marcus. He met others with abilities similar to his own—a teenage girl who could see five seconds into the future, an elderly man who received visions of events twenty-four hours ahead, but only while sleeping.

As Marcus delved deeper into the world of precognition, he began to see his ability in a new light. It wasn't just a tool for personal gain or a parlor trick to impress others. It was a responsibility, a chance to make a real difference in the world.

One crisp autumn morning, as Marcus sat in the facility's cafeteria, a vision struck him with unusual intensity. He saw a young boy, no more than eight years old, chasing a ball into a busy street. A truck barreled towards him, its driver distracted by a ringing phone.

Marcus jolted back to the present, his heart racing. He knew the intersection—it was just two blocks from the facility. Without a word to his fellow test subjects, he bolted from his seat and ran out the door.

The cool air whipped against his face as he sprinted down the street. He could hear Olivia calling after him, but there was no time to explain. Fifty seconds left.
As he rounded the corner, he saw the boy, happily bouncing his ball on the sidewalk. Forty seconds.

"Hey, kid!" Marcus shouted, startling the boy. "What's your name?"
The boy looked up, confused. "Tommy," he replied hesitantly.
Thirty seconds.

Marcus knelt beside Tommy, trying to catch his breath. "Tommy, I need you to do me a big favor. Can you count to sixty for me? As slow as you can?"
Tommy nodded, still perplexed but intrigued by the strange request. "One... two... three..."
Twenty seconds.

Marcus kept his eyes fixed on the street, watching for the truck he knew was coming. He could hear Olivia's footsteps approaching from behind.
"Marcus, what's going on?" she asked, breathless.
Ten seconds.
"Just wait," Marcus said, his voice tense.
"Fifteen... sixteen..." Tommy continued counting.
The truck appeared at the end of the street, right on schedule. Marcus watched as the driver reached for his ringing phone.
"Twenty-one... twenty-two..."
The ball slipped from Tommy's hands, rolling towards the street. Without hesitation, Marcus snatched it up, holding it tight.
"Thirty... thirty-one..."

The truck roared past, its driver oblivious to the tragedy that had been averted. Marcus let out a long, shaky breath.
"Fifty-nine... sixty!" Tommy finished proudly. "Did I do good?"

Marcus smiled, handing the ball back to the boy. "You did great, Tommy. Thanks for your help. Now, why don't you go play in the park over there? It's much safer."
As Tommy scampered off, Olivia stared at Marcus in awe. "You saw that coming, didn't you? But how did you know so far in advance?"

Marcus shook his head, equally puzzled. "I don't know. The vision was the same as always—one minute ahead. But it was clearer, more urgent somehow."
Olivia's eyes lit up with excitement. "This could be a breakthrough. Your ability might be evolving, adapting to the importance of the events you're foreseeing."

As they walked back to the facility, Marcus felt a shift within himself. He had always seen his power as a way to navigate his own life, to stay one step ahead. But now, he realized its true potential—the ability to change the future, not just for himself, but for others.

Over the next year, Marcus worked tirelessly with Olivia and her team to better understand and control his gift. They discovered that intense emotions could sometimes extend his foresight beyond the usual sixty seconds, though such visions were rare and unpredictable.

Marcus learned to use his ability more proactively, preventing accidents and averting disasters on a small scale. He became a regular at the local emergency services, anonymously tipping them off to impending incidents. Though he couldn't see far enough ahead to stop major catastrophes, the lives he saved and the injuries he prevented gave him a sense of purpose he had never known before.

But with this newfound purpose came an increasing sense of isolation. How could he form meaningful relationships when he was constantly one step removed from the present? How could he live in the moment when he was always looking ahead?

These questions plagued Marcus as he sat in a small café, absently stirring his coffee. A vision flashed before him—a woman with warm brown eyes and a gentle smile, bumping into his table and spilling her tea.

Exactly sixty seconds later, it happened. As the woman profusely apologized, dabbing at the spilled tea with napkins, Marcus found himself struck by an unfamiliar feeling—the desire to let events unfold without intervention.
"I'm so sorry," the woman said, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I'm such a klutz sometimes."

Marcus smiled, helping her clean up the mess. "No harm done. I'm Marcus, by the way."
"Sophia," she replied, returning his smile. "Can I buy you a fresh coffee to make up for this?"
For a moment, Marcus hesitated. He knew that saying yes would lead to a conversation, which would lead to a date, which would lead to... complications. How could he build a relationship with someone when he was always sixty seconds ahead?

But as he looked into Sophia's eyes, he made a decision. For once, he would let the future remain a mystery.
"I'd like that," he said.

As they talked, Marcus found himself relaxing, pushing his gift to the back of his mind. He learned that Sophia was a kindergarten teacher with a passion for abstract art. She laughed at his jokes and listened intently as he shared carefully edited stories about his work in "predictive analysis."

For the first time in years, Marcus felt truly present in the moment. The constant stream of visions faded into the background, overshadowed by the simple joy of human connection.
As the sun began to set, casting a warm glow through the café windows, Sophia glanced at her watch. "Oh, I didn't realize how late it's gotten. I should probably get going."

Marcus nodded, a tinge of regret coloring his voice. "Of course. This was... really nice."
Sophia hesitated, then pulled out a pen and scribbled on a napkin. "Here's my number. Maybe we could do this again sometime?"

As she held out the napkin, a vision flashed in Marcus's mind. He saw himself taking the number, saw a series of dates, laughter, shared secrets. He saw arguments and reconciliations, challenges overcome together. He saw a life shared, full of love and understanding.

And for once, the vision extended far beyond sixty seconds.
With a smile, Marcus took the napkin. "I'd love that."

As Sophia left the café, Marcus sat back in his chair, the napkin clutched in his hand. He realized that his gift had shown him more than just the immediate future—it had given him a glimpse of a possibility, a potential path forward.

For the first time since discovering his ability, Marcus felt truly excited about the future—not just the next sixty seconds, but all the moments that would follow. He understood now that the real power of foresight wasn't in controlling every outcome, but in recognizing the opportunities for joy, growth, and connection that each moment held.

As he stepped out of the café and into the fading daylight, Marcus felt a sense of peace wash over him. Whatever the future held—be it sixty seconds or sixty years from now—he was ready to face it, not just as an observer, but as an active participant in the grand, unpredictable adventure of life.

With one last look at the number on the napkin, Marcus tucked it safely into his pocket and set off down the street, eager to see what the next minute would bring.