Jane's time machine (2/2)

                                                           Written by Pedro Henrique Silva

- Is this your house? – I asked her while she was testing my reflexes with a little hammer.

- No. It’s John’s. He is my teacher at the university. He bought this house in the 90s, but he has never lived here. It would be his personal lab. That’s why the room and the kitchen are smaller than the lab itself. – Jane said. She was now with a flashlight pointed to my eyes.

- Why are you doing this?

- Standard procedure. Don’t worry.

I kept thinking how stupid my idea was. I really wanted to go back to 2018, to our first date, and change everything. Try to be more outgoing. Try to talk a little more, to make it an excellent date for her. But first I’d have to learn I little more about the machine. I used the it once, but maybe I got lucky.

- What is that? – I asked looking to that Iron Cable with a very weird silver stuff on its tip.

- That’s the time anchor.

- What?

- Let’s suppose that you want to go back to the World War 2 and kill Hitler. – Again, I couldn’t tell if she was joking or not - The door hadn’t been built yet, Right? So, you go through the door holding the anchor. When you finally kill him, you just need to set the date on the console, and you would, in theory, return to your time.

- In theory.

- Yes. I haven’t tested it yet.

- Oh, I see.

So, if I come back I would’ve been doing her a favor, again.

- Well, that’s it. – She said putting her hands on her waist – I think you can go back now to your time.

- Can you please bring me some water?

- Sure, there is a bottle over there – She pointed to the table next to me. She was setting the date to a minute after I first entered on the door.

- I’d love an iced one.

She sighed and left the lab. I had no time to lose. I set the date on the panel- March 25^th of 2018- , took the anchor, and went through the door. I was back in the lab. Well, it wasn’t like it used to be – or like it will be in the future. There were only two computers and a table. Next to them, Jane was looking at me. Very upset.

- How stupid do you think I am? – She asked me.

- What? Why are you here? How did you find me?

- First, of course you would come here. Second, the date was still on the console, you imbecile. I set to one minute before you arrive. Let’s return, please.

- I am sorry.

- No! Why would you go back? I mean, you didn’t think that you would change the fucking time. And, I don’t know, maybe breaking it?

- You were the one who dropped that Hitler example.

- EXACTLY. A FUCKING EXAMPLE. It’s very, very risky.

- Ok, ok, I am sorry. – I was truly sorry. I didn’t think about that.

She was very mad, pressing very angrily the buttons on the anchor. But, for nowhere, she stopped it.

- Wait – She said – What was your plan?

- Excuse me?

- Your plan. After arriving, what would you do?

- I didn’t think about that.

- Oh my god.

- But why is that important?

- Because the first time you went back on time and everything went well, apparently.

- How do you know?

- I wouldn’t have gone to the reunion. I only went because you showed up. And I know that I am going to the reunion because you are here. I went, we slept together, and you are here.

I was not following at all.

- I understood. – I said.

- No, you didn’t. Please, you really don’t know what you would do?

- Well, I thought about going to my house and talking to myself.

- And you have a paradox right there.

- Where? What? …oh, I see. I don’t remember meeting myself.

- Exactly.

- But you didn’t remember meeting me as well.

- Oh, that’s… Wrong. Apparently, I will remember.Your Jane probably remembered it. But, you know what, if we met and had a great time as you mentioned, I don’t hate you on the future as I hate you right now.

That was hard to hear. Did I screw up that bad? Trying to make things right with her in the past? How?

- I just… I just wanted to be with you longer, that’s all.       

- I know, man.

- Oh, no, you don’t. I’ve never really had a long-term relationship. Last night was perfect. I mean, it was the best night of my life. And I think that, in other time, we would’ve been happier. If we had that night earlier, maybe we would’ve…been married by now.

- You really didn’t get, did you?

- No, wait…

- We only slept because I thought, well, I think that we had to do it. And it would be awful to turn a time machine for the first time and cause a paradox. I had to go. You had to have sex. Everything must happen exactly like that. Otherwise you might have a great problem.

- You didn’t look like someone who was faking anything.

- Oh really? Your judgment is so amazing.

- What do you mean?

- Well, 11 years ago. You had a chance already. How in the world you did not realize how bored I was on that date?

- I was too young.

- You were 17. You weren’t smart at all, though. Somethings never change.

I didn’t remember how mean Jane was when she wanted to. On that moment I realize how many times she has lost her patient with me all those months that we studied on the school’s lab. 

- I didn’t have a plan. But now I have no intention on seeing you again. Not in the future, nor the past.

- Well, that’s mutual. Can we please comeback?

And we did comeback. First to her time. When we got there something hit me.

- You hate me, don’t you? – I asked her.

- Yep.

- Will you go to the reunion than?

- I think so. – She said without even looking at me. Just setting the date on the door’s panel.

- Look, I may not be as smart as you deserve. I may be just a dumb regular personal trainer, fitting the stereotype of hot and stupid. But, I like you. And I always have. Even hen you treated me like garbage like…well, now.

- Do you know what you are for me? She said turning herself in my direction.

- No.

- You are the normal life. The night clubs, the girlfriends, the parties, the Netflix’s marathon, the anniversaries, the commitment, the “your place or my place?”, the “lets meet my mom”. You really think I needed you when I used to go to lab back on the day? I wanted to be alone. I don’t want that normal life. It’s just…stupid. I beat you back then, I need to beat you right now.

- But do you need to be alone? Why you don’t want a normal life?

- Because, man, I am definitely not normal. I created a fucking time machine.

- But do you really have to hate me for that?

- Maybe I don’t hate you, I just… - She seemed confused, I realized that was the time to kiss her. I approached her and held her hand. She was about to cry – Give me a chance. Give a chance to you. – As I said that, she changed her expression, looked to me in the eyes and said.

- Do I look confused now? – She asked with an indifference - I am not. I made my decision many years ago. I can’t be with you. I can’t be with anyone. – She went to the panel, set the date and look back to me – You should go now. One minute after you leave. I will not be at home. And we will never see each other again.

I realized how serious she was. She as looking me in my eyes while I vanished through the door. When I finally got on my time, I left the lab, knowing that I felt in love for a very special woman. She was about to change the world. Forever. And I would be on her way. And what did I had to offer? I decided that the best thing would be to leave.

 When I stepped out of her front door, she was running toward my direction, or towards her house which was behind me now.

- I deserve a goodbye. – She said smiling

- A goodbye kiss? – I asked.

- A goodbye handshake.

We shook. Without letting my hand go she said.

- You are and have always been the only normal thing in my entire life.

- Thanks, I guess.

- You, with your adorable dumb way, were the only one who have ever made through my block.

- I think it’s a good think.

- No. It’s not. You are the biggest threat. But I won. – She said it while she entered in her house. – For the last time, Good Bye. – And she closed the door. That was the last time I saw her. And I couldn’t be more in love.