I felt light, like some burden was lifted off my shoulder. This was why Luke's father had brought me back here. Because I had to understand Luke. I had to see him from a perspective that wasn't biased, and now that I did, I made me feel like I had wronged him all through till the time he died. He didn't deserve his wife not shedding a single tear for him.Wait. I looked down at my shadow as I stood just outside, my heart beat picking up pace. The shadows were still two, complete with the silhouette of my hair and my sling back. I gulped.Did I have to go back? Does that mean I could only visit here and not actually stay?I watched the shadows again. They looked closer than the first time I had seen it. Was it some sort of time ticking? Was it the amount of time I had to go back that was passing by?I braced myself and walked in, but instead of attending classes and getting settled, I found myself walking straight to the library. I need more insight on the time travel machine Mr. McG

I cleared my throat as Luke tilted his head a little, his lips slightly parted."It is fine if you don't want to...it's just a childish whim anyway." He smiled at me and turned away, then left the kitchen.But that was not what not what was on my mind. My husband...no, he is not my husband right now, but...I took in a deep sigh as I turned to the entrance. He was sitting on the couch, his head lowered, probably looking at something."Uhm...where do you want to go?"This is a bad idea, Karla. The guy's dead. You have to go back. This is not your time.He turned to me, his eyes serious. "I feel like you have already done so much for me and this could be a bit...""Just cut the crap and tell me where we are going." Oh yeah. I almost forgot the 18 years old me was so sharp mouthed.He seemed fascinated by my response, then laughed. "Why don't you get ready and...we leave?""Right now?" My eyes widened."Uhmm..we will be there by evening..and..""But today is your birthday, right?""Yes,

I was about to go help Luke out with preparing when suddenly, the ringtone of my phone rang through the car."I think it's yours." Luke said, the delicate allure of the moment interrupted. I nodded, still a little dazed and went to it.It was Bernice and I immediately picked it up. I was expecting her to tell me about how I had been missing classes and all, but the first thing I heard as I brought the phone to my ears was the sound of her crying."Ber..Bernice. Why are you crying?" I asked, concern lacing my voice. Luke stopped what he was doing and turned to me, even though I could see he was trying to not come too close so he wouldn't intrude."Very cheap of you to ask me that, don't you think, Karla?""What are you talking about?" I asked, feeling nervous for some reason."How could you do this to me? I am your friend! We have been together since high school, we have done everything together and what? Nathan?" Her words were jumbled, and I was finding it hard to understand."I do

The depiction of time as an interloping of threads was just too accurate. An interloping of regrets and missed chances. Short bursts of happiness and overwhelming sadness and most importantly, the things we wish to have a second chance with.I raised my head to look at Luke who was quietly sitting in the car with me. After helping me get rid of the initial sadness, he had helped me into the car, then drove away from Kate's house.There, he sat in silence and let me just cry as the second wave of sadness hit me. The thing with Bernice didn't hurt half as much as the realization. The realization that there was so much I could have overlooked and forgotten like this one, manipulated my memory into thinking it just happened with no fault of mine, and moved on with my life.I was once a bubbly person with pink all around her, but then I grew...not necessarily into the world, but further into a shell. The person that had been with Luke hadn't been my true self either."Can you tell me some

I spent the night at home, if what I did could be called spending a night. I sat on the bed all night, feeling all the things I used to feel while sitting here, seven years ago, rushing back at me again. It was weird, just how in the end of it all, I was the very middle of it.I looked at my phone. Would the past Karla have her phone with her? What is she doing? I tried hard to remember what I was doing then around this time, but nothing came up. I stayed awake till the morning sun rose on me. In as much as I wanted to stay with my mother, I wanted to go back home. To be alone again.I trudged my way out of the room, intending to spend some time with her and leave."The alimony? Are you willing to pay it?" I heard my mother's voice say, and I stopped."But...Sandra. We can't just give our only child away like that. We can't just give her away into a marriage she does not want because we want to keep ours, Sandra. That is selfish."I heard my mother laugh. "Do you mean the same da