by: Liam Hogan

—this moment.

This shocking, terrible moment, when the capacitor explodes, robbing us of all the temporal energy we have stored, and worse.

Much worse.

Robbing me of my partner, my love, my only.

There is nothing I can do. Nothing. I hold her hand as her life ebbs away, wishing it were quicker and less painful.

It never is.

And then I run, bouncing off the walls, but nothing can get me there sooner. Heart racing, lungs burning, I dive for the portal generator and throw the switch, even though I know I can only go back as far as—

© 2024. Liam Hogan

Liam Hogan is an award-winning short story writer. He helps host live literary event Liars’ League, and volunteers at the creative writing charity Ministry of Stories. More details at happyendingnotguaranteed.blogspot.co.uk.

Posted May 22, 2024.