For a Limited Time Only (The Time Traveler's Passport)

by Peng Shepherd

The thing that science fiction often gets wrong about the concept of time travel is the bit right at the beginning. All those movies about heroes going back in time to assassinate young Adolf before he becomes Hitler or to stop the nuclear bomb from being built, they make a better story, sure—but not a very accurate one. The reality is, you just can’t do that. You can’t change things. Try, and the whole system collapses.

‘Time isn’t something you lose, it’s something you make.’”

When Simon threatens to move out during their next counseling session, the following day, he just takes on yet another solo account. It’s like, the worse it gets between them, the more Vik works, not less. It makes no sense.

For weeks, Opal did this. For weeks, she kept us from reaching the end of the story.

“It was inevitable, Russ,” Vik says again. There is a certainty in his voice that hurts. “Love. Death. It doesn’t matter.” He turns back to the bar. “We can’t change it. All we have is the time.” Finally, I turn back as well. I pick up my glass again so that I won’t burst into sobs. “If only we were lamps instead of people,” I say. If only.