Dating : Time Travel For Dummies

I’m in Northern California, and the sun’s about to set.

In this timeline, I met my wife, Lena, through a dating app. She’s gorgeous, smart, and kind-hearted. She also loves Hawaii, running on the beach, and most importantly, spam. We’re perfect for each other, and we’re also never meant to be. Until now, that is.

I’ve never run into her in any other timeline, so it must have been a series of random events that caused us to meet. Maybe a completely random fluctuation of sub-atomic particles in the atmosphere caused an excessive amount of rainfall in Nebraska which caused Lena to stay indoors on a weekend, swiping right on a bunch of guys who didn’t deserve her. Including me.

I tune into this timeline just as Lena and I have settled into a hot tub at our vacation home in Stinson Beach. We’re up on a hill overlooking the ocean, and suddenly, I feel something I’ve never felt before.

My time traveling days are going to come to an end. This is the future I want to settle in.

I need to go back to the present, I thought to myself. I had to figure out a way back here, which meant I had to leave.

I hold Lena’s hand. “Lena, I’m sorry, but I have to go. ”

Lena looks at me quizzically, “What do you mean?”

“I… I can’t explain, but I’ll be back ok?”

Lena laughs. “You can be so damn melodramatic sometimes.” She turns towards me and grabs my two hands. “Listen, I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be right here waiting.”

With tears in my eyes, I nod my head and look away.

Click.