By: Anonymous
In a small village nestled between two misty mountains, a shop lay empty of customers. The sign above the door read "The home of time," but the locals knew it was much more than a simple clock shop. The shop was owned by Dave, a reclusive old man with messy white hair and gentle, precise hands that repaired clocks with a kind of precision that seemed unnatural.
One rainy afternoon, a young woman named Bella wandered into the shop, seeking shelter from a storm. The moment she stepped inside, a calm sense of peace flooded her mind. The shelves were lined with clocks of every shape and size, ticking in perfect harmony, though some looked like they were years or even centuries old.
"Welcome, miss," The Shop owner greeted her with a kind voice. "Sure is pouring out there" Yet he never looked up from the counter.
Ella smiled nervously. "Caught me off guard."
As she wandered deeper into the shop, her eyes caught something unusual—a clock on the far wall, hidden behind a curtain of ivy. Its face was made out of poorly cut wood, with a loud, jarring ticking noise coming from inside.
"That one’s not for sale," Dave commented, his voice soft but firm. "That one is special to me."
Ella gave a startled jump. "Oh sorry"
The old man smiled, a sad, knowing smile. "Don’t be. You see, that clock was the first clock I built. Doesn’t look great but it means a lot to me"
Ella took in the details of the clock, watching the crooked hands tick. Something about the clock felt warm and familiar.
She turned back to Dave and saw a pained smile on his face before he looked away.
“Do you like that clock?” Ella asked, fearing that she might make him upset.
Dave turned to Ella confused. “Why wouldn’t I?”
Ella shrugged and started to walk around the rest of the shop. Yet every time she looked towards the counter Dave was frowning at the clock.
“You should get rid of that clock.” Ella finally spoke up.
Dave turned to her shocked, angry, and ..afraid? “No! I couldn’t!” he paused for a moment “Why would I?”
“Bad memories?” it was a shot in the dark but based on how Dave winced and looked away, she was right.
“It means so much to me” His voice cracked.
“But it’s hurting you. You need to let it go” She got closer to the counter.
“How can I just throw it out!?” He rushed to the clock but stopped right before it.
“Let it die, and with it, the pain it brings you” Ella watched him. “I know it’s hard, but it’s not good for you anymore.” Hearing the rain outside slow down, Ella debated leaving or staying. The shop owner was struggling as he stared at his favorite- no, his first clock. Ella silently left the shop.
A couple weeks later, Ella came across the same shop. Yet where the clock once was mounted lay an empty space. Ella smiled and carried on her day.