Something about the elderly woman drew my attention. I don't know what it was about her; she was just an old woman sitting on a bench at the local Wal-Mart store. Yet, some strange sense drew my eyes to her.

She was staring at me in a strange, piercing manner and there was something vaguely familiar about her. I couldn't quite place my finger on what it was but it drew me like a moth to flame. She motioned for me to come to her but I was dubious. I mean, I didn't know this woman, why waste my precious time on her? I had a lot of things to get done before this day was over. I gave her a friendly wave and turned to walk away.

Then it was like some strange force spun me around and, to my surprise, I found myself walking towards the old woman. She patted the bench beside her and I sat with no resistance. Her blue eyes gazed into my own blue eyes and I couldn't have moved if I wanted to. At that point I lost all desire to leave anyway; I was her captive.

"I have something to tell you, young lady," the old woman said. "I want you to listen and hear me well. You are headed down the wrong road and only sorrow and pain will be your reward if you persist on living as you are now. You will lose the child of your heart and your life will be a living hell. It's not too late for you to change your ways and leave that terrible man you married. Trust me in this, my friend, for no one knows you as I do."

Who the hell was this old woman and who did she think she was telling me how to live my life? She looked to be a hundred years old but that didn't give her the right to tell me what to do.

As if she heard my thoughts she said, "I'm your hundred- year- old self, who you will be in sixty years. I know all our past and future life for I am you and you are me. Please believe me and heed my words."

The old bat is crazy, I thought to myself. I used all my will power and broke free of her control over me. I jumped to my feet and got away from there as fast as I could. I took about twenty steps before turning to give her one last look. I was amazed to find her gone. How did such an old person move so fast?

I forgot the old woman and continued to live my life with a husband who was abusive and made my life hell. My son died in a tragic accident that might have been avoided if we had not been where we were. Was the old woman really my hundred-year-old-self trying to warn me? Only God knows.