Introduction
Consider me a time traveler. I exist without a physical form, considering that I have no tangible presence. I am occupying that space in your head, allowing me to borrow your voice. I’m curious. Whose voice do you hear in your mind when reading this?
This is the power of those who write. We can enter your most personal space, a realm even your closest loved ones cannot penetrate. Your mind.
But what is this internal dialogue really? That space defines our humanity, shaping who we are as humans. A soul? Consciousness? Or is it merely data that can be transferred and stored?
At this moment, how connected are you with your inner self? Think about what defines you for a moment. Your home, your career, your future goals, your family, the love of your life, your sadness, or if you even will make it to the next day. Are you certain this is who you are and who you will continue to be?
Incorrect.
Whatever you said. Wherever you are in your life right now.
Wrong.
As a time traveler from the future, I can confidently tell you that is not the case. I understand that you may have countered this in your mind and engaged in a mental debate, but remember, I am not physically present, so you are essentially debating with yourself.
Have you ever been so happy, so overjoyed with life that you were certain, so certain this is how your life would be like?
If you are sitting there at a point in your life where you can’t answer. You are not lost. Your feelings are not wrong. In fact, I want you to embrace them. All of them.
The love of that holiday town you visited, wishing to move there. Your first true love. The passion for a new hobby. The feeling of the first day of your new job.
Those certainties are real.
And when you find yourself uncertain about these things, that’s when I want you to know that I’m certain you are exactly where you need to be.
Is certainty doomed to follow an inverse path with time? Or is there some singularity, some event that can change that?
Your life is not one love story waiting to happen; it’s a beautiful collection of love stories and experiences that create something so unique, that there is only one being that can create that complex data like a snowflake falling to the Earth: YOU.
Your soul is not a linear path from birth to death. Think of it more as a seed growing into a beautiful tree. And with every new experience, every new love, every fallen leaf, every loss you go through, these gardeners of your soul teach you to love better, to give more, to be more of yourself, what you like and don’t like, bringing you closer to realizing you are exactly who you are supposed to be.
You just might not have bloomed yet.
Chapter 1
Liam was seated on the edge of his bed, gazing out the window at the sunset. The hues on the Tahoe trees were stunning, and he felt as though he was standing in front of a divine painting. Dew sparkles on the foliage, creating hundreds of diamonds that decorate the cabin.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Although he had spent part of his summer there before, that day seemed particularly special.
Liam was lost in the moment, taking in the birdsongs, the smell of wet grass, and the sunbeam that''s focused on the bed where Sarah lay asleep.
My stomach was all twisted with nerves—that day, he would pop the question.
He looked over to check the time on the clock: 6 a.m. He turned back to Sarah and stared admiringly at her long, blonde hair reflecting light. Her hazel eyes were revealed when she stirred awake.
“What are you doing, weirdo?” she said, her arms stretching while some blankets fell away to reveal her bare chest. “Come close the blinds and get back into bed!”
Liam rose from the bed, closed the curtains, and then returned to it.
“Sorry, I couldn’t sleep,” he said as he crawled back in beside her.
She opened her arms and welcomed him into the embrace of her body, murmuring, “Just a couple more hours.”
He nestled between her legs, as his chest rested against her hip, and his head found its place on her chest with an ear pressed to her heart.
His skin felt delicate beneath her touch, yet each contact sent electricity coursing through him like a jolt of energy. One arm held him close while the other caressed his hair.
He wanted to pause time so this moment would last forever, but the minutes continued to pass until he drifted off to sleep again.
When Liam awoke an hour later, he carefully got out of bed without disturbing her slumber. He pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants that were lying by the foot of the bed and kicked his discarded clothing from the night before into a pile.
He grabbed the two empty wine glasses and bottle that had been left on the nightstand, along with a card that read, “Happy three-year anniversary.”
He headed to the kitchen and tossed the empty bottles away. Simple things always made her happy, so Liam decided to prepare breakfast.
The bacon was gorgeous: Perfect slices of meat that came off the stove still a little pink and bleeding. The eggs were fluffy, and the yolks were firm, not runny.
The coffee was steaming, sitting in an old-fashioned ceramic mug.
It tasted strong and creamy, but not bitter; the espresso and sugar were sweet on their own, but complemented the coffee instead of overcompensating for its bitterness.
It was thick and creamy; a cream-colored foam as white as the clouds in the sky.
"I smell bacon," Sarah announced as she casually walked into the kitchen, still wearing his shorts and hoodie.
Her long, blonde hair was pulled back into a bun that reached down to her shoulders.
Although petite, she exuded confidence like no other.
Liam towered over her at 6''1", but the sight of her made him grin ear to ear like an idiot.
She started talking, but he didn''t hear a word she said.
Focus, Liam. Nod your head and pay attention.
Suddenly, she jumped on him, and he caught her in his arms—one of his favorite greetings.
Their embrace was so close that Liam could feel her heart beating against his.
She grabbed his face and looked at him in the eye with a smile.
"Are you listening to me?" she asked teasingly.
“Huh, sorry. Can’t blame me, coming in here looking like that,” he said to dodge the question.
“Wait, the bacon! Put me down!” she spoke.
They hiked up the trail, the time going by so quickly as they chatted.
They''d known each other for three years, and it still seemed like he could keep listening to her stories for hours. Her passion for life and her goals came through in her words.
As they made their way toward the summit, his palms sweated, although Liam wasn’t sure if it was from nerves or fatigue.
Fortunately, she didn’t notice.
He paused and surveyed the landscape.
A creek carved a path between rocks at the summit, so Liam hopped down to get closer to it.
Reaching out to touch the water, he couldn’t even feel it—or its temperature—anymore.
Was his hand numb? No… He remembered it being cold.
Why did he have such a strange sense of déjà vu?
And there it was, the perfect spot.
A rock big enough to sit on, with a clear view of the lake.
Where the blue water and sky blurred together in the sun''s brilliance.
She perched upon the rock, taking a sip from her water bottle as Liam knelt down.
Her figure silhouetted by the sun, looking almost angelic.
"My love. It didn''t come from looks, or even intelligence. You''ve done more for me in these three years than you can ever know..."
But, then, something strange happened: the world suddenly stopped around them.
The wind ceased, and all movement froze.
Liam tried to move, but couldn''t—it was as if he''d been paralyzed.
His breathing became frantic, yet he couldn''t feel his body''s motion.
All sound faded away, except for the thumping of his heart that was so loud it sounded like a drum being banged on.
He could no longer look down at his hands; everything became darker and darker...
Until all that remained was darkness and his thoughts, which were quickly fading too.
No... Stop… Sarah..."