When he walked into the apartment, his roommate looked up from his book.  “How did it go?”

He slumped into one of the armchairs.  “She broke up with me.”

His roommate looked puzzled.  “Wow.  Serious déjà vu.  How many times have we had this conversation before?”

“I’ve lost count.  Maybe a dozen?”

“A dozen?!”

He shrugged.  “Give or take.”

“You’ve gone back about a dozen times, and each time she breaks up with you?  I think it’s time to take the hint and move on.”

“I almost had it right,” he protested.  “I could tell.  She nearly didn’t break up with me.  I think I can fix it on the next go round.”

“I don’t have the benefit of remembering our previous conversations like you do, so you’ll have to indulge me.  How many times have you said that?”

“Don’t remember.”

“Uh huh.  So you’ve lived through the same day over and over trying to stop this one woman from breaking up with you.  How long do you intend to do this?”

“As long as it takes.”

“That’s crazy.”

“It’s not like I’m wasting time.  I can do this over and over and never lose a day.”

“But you never move forward!  You plan on just staying stuck here?”

“I’m getting tired of this same argument.”

“Quit going back, then.”

“What’s the point of being able to relive a day if you don’t try to fix your mistakes?”

“But you haven’t fixed anything.  Whatever you’re doing isn’t working.  Maybe it’s bigger than just this day.  Don’t you think it might be time to let go?”

He sighed.  Was it time to give up on this and let time move forward?  “Maybe you’re right.”

“Just go to sleep.  Let today go and see what tomorrow brings.”

“I suppose so.  Well, I guess I should go to bed before I change my mind.  Goodnight.”

“Goodnight.  See you tomorrow.”  His roommate grinned.

He smiled back to acknowledge the jab and walked down the hall to his bedroom.

*     *     *

When he walked into the apartment, his roommate looked up from his book.  “How did it go?”

He slumped into one of the armchairs.  “She broke up with me.”