The Clock Is Ticking
Chapter 3
Jake's mouth dropped wide open when he saw the sigh in front of him. His father, her mother, and him, as a newborn, posing for a picture. They were in the front yard of his house, and all their family members were around them, happily celebrating his arrival.
I showed him a picture of when he had just been born. His father, mom, him (of course), and a group of angels, including me, were around him.
"What? I've seen this picture a million of times and you weren't there!" Jake accused, pointing at this picture.
I smiled. "We're obviously not going to appear in pictures, Jake."
Jake remained silent, still staring at the picture and his surroundings in awe.
He was about to wave at his family, so I added, "They can't see you."
Jake gasped, surprised at my prediction.
"I am the angel of time," I told him. I gazed at the family. "You had a pretty happy life, didn't you? Especially your childhood. I will never forget this moment-" I snapped my fingers and we were transported to another time. "-in 1997."
Jake smiled as he recognized his surroundings. "I was ten at this time, right?"
I nodded. "This was probably your best birthday gift ever."
Jake grinned as he saw his younger self, smiling up at the George Lucas, the man behind Star Wars. He had been such a huge fan of the movie, and he was more than thrilled when his father had taken him to the set of The Phantom Menace while it was being filmed. He'd gotten to meet everyone.
I snapped my fingers. And we were transported to another night. Jake's smile disappeared.
"Remember this?" I asked him.
Jake nodded. He saw his eighteen-year-old self and Kristin, walking down the streets of their neighborhood.
"This was the night when I was going to ask her out... but I chickened out and ran off telling her my mom needed me," Jake murmured in reply, clearly disappointed.
I placed a small glass container in front of him, and the scene in front of him paused.
"That day was October 27, 2005. If you want to return right to this moment... drink it, and after you do so, say that day's date," I instructed.
"October 27, 2005?" he asked.
I nodded.
He gazed at the contained in his hands, then back up at me. He smiled. "Thanks."
"You're welcome," I replied. "Just know that not confessing wasn't the only mistake you made in your senior year."
Jake nodded, but he was still too enthralled with the bottle in his hands. "Will I have to do it all over again until I'm twenty-five once again?"
"You'll have a period of two months," I explained. "If you think you've done enough and wish to leave, it'll be granted. However, if you wish to stay... all that will happen in the following years will be forgotten by you."
Jake gazed up at me. "I'll do it."
I nodded. "I knew you'd say that. Now, good luck."
And with that, I disappeared. Well, not exactly. I just became invisible.
Jake took in a deep breath before gulping down the liquid. I'd made it taste like chocolate milk, his favorite drink, so he would enjoy it.
"October 27, 2012," he whispered.
And just like that, he was right next to Kristin.
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