TIME FOR LOVE The TimeGuard bracelet molded itself to his wrist with a gentle hiss. It wasn’t so tight as to block bloodflow to his hand, but it came close. The activation light began to strobe. “The bracelet prevents you from changing history during your travels. You’ve read the brochure?” “Yes.” “Destination?” “June 2nd, 2035.” The salesman looked up. His hands left the keyboard. “That’s last Saturday, Sir. Most people want to see dinosaurs.” “I want to see my wife. She died Saturday. Crossing the street. A bus...” “The bracelet won’t let you save her. It won’t even let you talk to her.” “I just want to see her. Alive. One last time.” A brief silence. A sigh. The salesman’s hands returned to the keyboard. “Method of payment?”
* * * Time tourism was expensive, but the cost was nothing compared to what he’d paid on the black market for the bracelet key. Acquiring the deactivation code had cost him everything he owned. He was now penniless, and in debt from charging the TimeTrip. It didn’t matter. He wasn’t coming back. He materialized on the corner of 10th and Lexington at 8:06 AM. At 8:10, the bus would crest the 9th Street overpass and pick up speed on the downhill. The 10th Street stoplight would be green. The red “don’t walk” sign would be flashing, but Laura would risk it. The bus could not reach 9th Street. He had four minutes. He ran the block, uphill, in a thigh-burning sprint. The bus was coming. Breathless on the sidewalk, he watched it roll through the 7th Street crossing, then the 8th. Its electric engine whined loudly as the driver gunned the accelerator for the uphill climb. He had to time this perfectly. The bus had to stop, not just slow down. It was the only way he could be certain. On the count of three. One… Two… Three. He dashed into the street. There was no way the bus could miss him.
“Jim, no!” A hand wrenched his collar but he had too much forward momentum to stop. He tried to turn, and in doing so spun and crashed backward onto the pavement, dragging his rescuer with him. She landed on his chest. In the middle of the street. The TimeGuard bracelet hugging her wrist draped across his nose. The activation light was not strobing. It was Laura. Alive. One last time. Then the wheels.
#TimeTravel #sciencefiction #flashfiction #400WordStory #OnePostStory
