The Lounge of Lost Time
Welcome to the tale of 'The Lounge of Lost Time', the story of an ordinary man named Tom who stumbled upon an extraordinary reality.
Tom was an ordinary librarian from a small town. His life was filled with stacks of books and he enjoyed the silent tranquility of the library. However, he had always longed for an adventure. The tales of time travel and mystical lands that existed within the covers of those books enticed him.
One day, his usual routine was shattered when an antiquated book fell off from an old, neglected corner of the library. The title was cunningly woven, 'The Lounge of Lost Time'. Intrigued, Tom opened the book, and the library faded away. It was as if he had been swept from his physical surroundings and plunged into the pages of the book.
He found himself standing in an opulent lounge filled with extravagant artifacts from different periods. Gorgeous paintings from Renaissance artists adorned the walls, antiquarian curiosities were stacked on wooden shelves, and a large gothic window revealed a landscape view of the shifting sands of ancient Egypt.
Looking around, Tom spotted a bar counter where an elderly gentleman, attired as a 19th-century barman, was serving drinks. He approached the barman, expressing his surprise and confusion. The barman, with a genial smile, introduced himself as Herbert and explained the enigma of the lounge.
The Lounge of Lost Time, Herbert revealed, was a sanctuary for the wanderers of time, housing timeless artifacts and scripts. It existed outside the stream of time, hence being oblivious to the progression of the world. Every artifact and immortal had a tale from the times they were yanked from.
Infused with a newfound understanding, Tom ventured around the lounge, living stories of each artifact and epoch. He marveled at an Egyptian obelisk from the time of Pharaohs, read the personal diary of a British soldier fighting in the World War, danced to a quaint gramophone playing a bebop tune from the 1940s, and met beings of all kinds who shared his astonishment and wonder.
One peculiar artifact, an ancient hourglass with cosmic sand inside drew Tom’s attention. The barman Herbert informed him that it was a 'Time Shifter'; however, it only worked once before returning to its original era. A chance to live any epoch he yearned for! Tom was faced with a crucial decision. He had the opportunity to abandon his simple life for an adventurous voyage or return to his familiar world.
It was tempting, yet, something held him back. The quiet of his library, the assurance of the familiar, his everyday life started seeming precious. Would he trade peace for thrill, silence for chaos, and certainty for enigma?
Reflecting upon what the idea of 'adventure' had meant to him, he realized his love for books was his adventure. His days among books were where he lived a thousand lives, travelled to mystical lands, fought mythical beasts, loved, lost, and yet found purpose.
With a grateful heart, he thanked Herbert for the experience and chose his library. He was handed the 'Time Shifter' and as he successfully manipulated it, the Lounge started to fade away, pulling Tom back to the reality of his library.
When he returned, his heart was filled with an overwhelming joy. He was back among his dear books, and brimming with the unbelievable adventure he had lived. He was no longer just a librarian; he was also a time traveller with a fantastic story that no one would believe.
Tom's encounter with 'The Lounge of Lost Time' redefined his view of life, from mundane to adventurous, making him realise that one doesn’t necessarily need to leave his world behind to seek adventure. Sometimes, all it takes is to delve deeper into the world already surrounding us.