May 3, 3021

May 3, 3021

By Aneya V.

I am given the opportunity to time travel any day I want. Everyone in my city is also given the same opportunity, but I just take this chance a step further than most. I always enter the time-traveling machine and visit the same day, every day. Even when I’m busy, I go. Even when I know I shouldn’t do it, I go. Even when, sometimes, the machines are closed for the day, I still go, no matter the circumstance. The event that I travel to is important to me. It is the day that I met my best friend. His name is Silas Woods.

The event takes place in San Diego, California, on December 11 of 3006. I always travel to that moment in time to see him and me on the swings at Springfield Park.

I walk through my home, slinging a backpack over my shoulder. Earlier today, I planned to visit the time-traveler around two in the afternoon, the time it is now. Leaving my home, I make my way into my car, buckle my seatbelt, then drive off. I drive to the Time Control Center in downtown and park in my usual parking spot. I leave my car in the same spot because it’s perfect for any day, regardless of the weather. There’s a tree beside the parking spot that shields the car from the hot sun. Today, however, is a good day. Just the right amount of sun and clouds.

I hop out of my car and shut the door. Looking around as I cross the street, I click my keys to lock my car. I never feel bored with going here over and over again, I could never. Just the fact that I can do what I do, is all I need. I enter the Time Control Center and slide my card through the check slit, then walk through security. Like every other day here, I wave to at least one or two people politely. It’s good to be nice, even when people don’t expect it.

I walk through the sections for an open machine but today seems a little crowded. There are lines of people waiting for each one - long lines. I check the time. 2:39 PM. I have an appointment in forty minutes that I need to leave for and at this rate, I will not be able to find an open machine. I begin to panic, searching around the sections quickly. This has process has to go quickly because technically, a minute in travel time is equivalent to three minutes. That means I will only have around five minutes to get in, get out, then leave.

“This is hardly enough time to watch,” I whispered to myself, standing beside the bathrooms. Sighing, I scrolled through my phone to check any other Time Control Centers around here. Visiting December 11 of 3006 is a daily tradition. Missing a day just won’t do.

“Hey,” a voice whispered. I whip around in a swift motion and face a man. He looks like a janitor. “Looking for a short line?” he asks, setting his mop on the floor. He begins to mop the floor.

“Uh, yeah, but all of them are ten or more people, and through security again, I could never get there in time,” I inform him, “But thank you.”

“For what? I didn’t even offer anything yet,” he says, smirking. “Follow me. Time Control doesn’t let a lot of people use this machine unless it’s urgent. And for you, I’m sure it’s very urgent, right?” I just nod. “Great. Follow me.”

Without a word, he turns around and walks off, letting his mop trail behind. I hesitantly follow, keeping a distance between the two of us because of safety issues. I don’t entirely trust this man, but he doesn’t seem like such a creepy guy at all. He seems helpful, actually. Not because he’s helping me, but because of the way he portrays himself. He doesn’t look like a janitor at all behind his uniform.

The man enters through the ‘STAFF ONLY’ door and leads me inside, revealing the time-traveling machine that looks just like the ones outside. I grin from ear-to-ear, setting my things down.

“Thank you, sir. Do I need to be secured here?” I question, putting on a jacket.

“No, no. Just go in like usual. Here,” he says, handing me a wristband. We wear wristbands so we are able to come back to the present whenever we’d like. I smile and nod, wrapping the wristband around my forearm and walk inside the machine. I realize that I decided to trust this man easily, but I wave it off. “Just saying, this thing’s a little rusty. Be careful!”

The consequences don’t cross my mind. I just go with it. The man shuts the door to the machine and I stand there. I close my eyes, setting a time date, then open. I suddenly teleport to December 11, 3006. I smile again, thinking, It works!

I walk over to the playground, watching six-year-old me skip around the area. Six-year-old me stumbles on the floor, tripping over someone’s sand bucket. I chuckle at the sight.

Expecting for Silas to pop in to save the day, I stand underneath a tree with excitement. Here it comes. Yet it never does. I don’t see Silas come to help, so six-year-old me gets up on her own. She runs crying over to mom who holds her.

“Where’s Silas?” I mumble, looking around. I search the playground, wondering where the boy is until I spot him on the swings. With a different girl. Who isn’t me? “What?” I say, “No, this isn’t supposed to happen. Silas is supposed to help me up and he swings with me. Not her. The timeline changed… This is all wrong.”

This is all wrong.