Through the Threads of Time

I stood beside the open coffin, looking at the face of the man I had been married to. Our marriage had taken place months ago in this same church and now I was back here, this time with him lying stiff and cold.But, I wasn't the young widow you would expect. In fact, I was very far from it. I watched the coffin with a raised brow and clear eyes, with no traces of tears in my eyes.It had been an arranged marriage back then. None of us liked each other, or even wanted to give each other a chance. We ignore each other at home, and when I mistakenly crossed his path, he made sure I never did it again.I remembered the first time we went out together before the marriage, and we ordered food at a French restaurant. I was eating, since none of us felt like saying anything to the other, we had completely given our food all the attention. Until he suddenly stood and asked for the bill.The waiter came with the bill and he paid it, then looked up at me. "Finish your meal and go back home.

I looked from Bernice to Kate and the others behind her, then back at Bernice again."Are you telling me that you traveled all the way from Australia down here just to play this dirty joke on me?"Bernice scrunched up her face. "Australia? When did I go to Australia?" She asked and turned to the others as if asking for them to support her."You left immediately we finished college."She actually reclined at that. "Oh my God, Karla. Did you hit your head somewhere?""What are you trying to say?""No, just.." She placed a palm on her head and shook her head, then looked at me. "You just got accepted into a college!""I was accepted into college seven full years ago!" I yelled back, getting sick and tired of the whole joke. I know they were trying to lighten the mood but this was too much."You have any idea how old you would have been then? Eleven." She said, with an expression that said, as a matter of fact.Kate cracked up and I glared at her."Eleven? Really? I am 25 right now. Wi

"L...luke?" His eyes were closed, blood flowing from the side of his face. I shook my head to bring myself back to reality as I wrapped my arms around the upper part of his body and pulled hard, freeing his leg from the crushed car. After getting them out, I straightened, trying to calm my nerves. My hands shook uncontrollably as I tried to analyze the situation in front of me.What should I do now? What does someone have to do when they witness an accident? I stepped away from Luke's body and felt around for my bag. I got my phone and called for an ambulance.It took roughly twenty minutes, and I got in with them after saying I was a family friend. They had started resuscitating Luke and putting an oxygen mask over him, but the older, weirdly extremely familiar man was completely still. It scared me to my bones.I don't remember seeing this accident back then, the first time I was 18 years old. So why and how was I seeing it now? What does this even mean for me? I was sure this w

The feeling of his eyes on me was electrifying, and I looked down at my feet."So uhm..." I said, and cleared my throat. Being 18 years old made me a lot shyer, and to an extent, I was feeling so much more than I used to. It was like as I grew, I lost the part of myself that felt, and it was a little dizzying to find it again.I had become cold and hard, and maybe...maybe this was the best version of me."I will go back home. And I will make sure to thank you properly.""Thank me properly?""I hope we meet again." He was extremely gentle and shy, and he has a one sided dimple that gave him the pure, innocent look.I nodded absent mindedly and watched his back as he left.It was an especially cold morning, and he was only wearing the hospital wear. I found myself running to my closet. It had all the old clothes, the clothes I used to wear as an 18 year old jolly girl.I checked them for a jacket, and I found only one black one. It was the only dark colored piece of clothing I had and

I suddenly lost appetite, as the scene of my first introduction to Luke, 7 years into the future floated behind my eyes, causing me to hear his mother's voice ring in my ears."We have maintained very close friendship with your family, Karla. In fact, your father is the only best friend that my late husband had and acknowledged. Other times, he had his nose buried in science books..."I shook my head and closed my eyes tightly, then opened them again."Are you fine?""It must have been so hard, Luke." I said again, trying hard to swallow the lump that was growing in my throat.He must have thought I was disgusting. He must have thought I was like my father. Or when he looked at me, he saw his late father's pain. I didn't do any of it, in fact, I didn't know, but...he wouldn't know that. I wouldn't even care if I was in his shoes."It gets better." He said, then pushed the bowl of cookies to me. "Do you not like it?""I do. Thanks." But I couldn't help that I had lost my appetite. My