Author: Ethan J. Hatchett

“We need to talk.” Katie’s words were firm, but her bright blue eyes betrayed her.

“Not this time.” Michael leaned in to kiss Katie.

“Michael, stop. It’s…” He couldn’t wait for her to finish. He pressed the button and vanished back to his own time.

The present was a mess. Michael was back to himself: middle-aged, balding, and fat. He flipped through his notebook. It was a jumble of scribbles that told the same story.

It was the story of August 6th, 2010. Michael was sixteen. That warm summer evening, Katie dumped him. The details were forever burned into his memory. There was a clear sky, it was 75 degrees, with a slight breeze from the east. It all took place fifteen minutes before sunset. They sat together on a swing in the local park. She was on the left, and he was on the right.

Michael tried to move on, but Katie lingered in his mind, preventing him from growing close to anyone. This wedge grew until he was completely alone. With his machine, he could go anywhere or any era that suited him, but his travels only led him back to August 6th, 2010.

The machine hummed. This pile of metal and wires was all he had left. It was his life’s work, and it was all for Katie. Michael’s thumb hit the button, and with a flash…
He was a skinny teenager again. His eyes locked on Katie. Freckles dotted her cheeks beneath her eyes. Her brown hair was up in a ponytail with loose strands framing her face. “We need to talk,” she said.

“Don’t do this, please!” Michael grabbed her hand. “I love you, I need you!” Katie pulled away, her nose wrinkled. “Please! I’m nothing without you. Life doesn’t make sense.”

“I’m sorry, Michael, but it’s over.”

“Why? We have just begun!”

“Don’t make this harder than it has to be.”

“We can make this work!”

“Michael, this will never work.”

In the present, her words still rang in his ears. Michael’s tears smudged the ink in his notebook. The first time he traveled back, he tried to seduce her with clever tricks, but failed. Then he tried yelling. Now, he found himself repeating the same pathetic pleas he had made as a teenager. As he flipped through his notebook, the weight of his wasted life hit him hard. He was older, but he never changed.

The setting sun highlighted the shape of Katie’s face. Her brows, nose, and mouth were in perfect harmony. Her skin seemed to glow in the sunlight. The two teenagers held hands. Michael’s heart pounded in his ears. Katie moved to speak, but he interrupted her. “I know. It’s over. But could we stay and watch the sun set one last time?” Katie nodded. She rested her head on his shoulder. He savored this moment. As long as the sun stayed over the horizon, she was his. Soon, the park would turn dusky blue and she would be gone. His thumb hovered over the button, but he couldn’t bring himself to press it.