The Promise of a Time Traveler
In the tiny rustic town, nestled amidst the ancient mountains that had witnessed civilizations rise and fall, there existed a curious legend about a man known as the Time Traveler. The name echoes each night as it is narrated in hushed tones by grandmas to their wide-eyed grandchildren.
In the heart of this hamlet was an antiquated house. Its cobwebbed windows sagged, and the chipped wooden door seemed incredibly aged. This peculiar house belonged to Time Traveler. A hermit and a scholar, he was called Dr. Edwin Smith.
Edwin was fascinated by the concept of time travel from his boyhood. This obsession had led him to renounce a normal life and devote all his time, energy, and resources into researching and inventing a time machine.
Now, Edwin was an old man in his seventies, his face etched with wrinkles that resembled labyrinth patterns of time. He had spent decades on a quest to invent a time machine, and finally, he was successful.
His invention was an unusual wristwatch. It was no ordinary piece of timekeeping. The face was an icy blue, filled with moving symbols and signs. It had two main buttons: one for forward jumps and one for backward.
Proud of his invention, Edwin geared up for his maiden trip. His destination was the Mayan Civilization, centuries before his time. Clad in his worn-out leather suit, he adjusted his wristwatch and hit 'backward', shrinking into nothingness.
In the blink of an eye, Edwin found himself amidst a buzzing Mayan market. He conversed and shared meals, exchanging wisdom and experiences. The scholarly Edwin was quick to adapt to their language and ways.
One evening, Edwin met Lilya, a young Mayan woman. He was enchanted by her wisdom and beauty. Over time, they grew close, sharing stories and knowledge from their contrasting worlds. Yet, Edwin dared not reveal his secret for fear it could disrupt the time-space continuum.
As days blurred into weeks, Edwin found himself falling in love with Lilya. But time waits for no one. He had the wristwatch ticking as a morbid reminder that he had to return.
The day arrived and, in a heart-wrenching moment, he made a solemn vow to her. 'I promise to return, Lilya,' he said, his voice choked with emotion. She, in her infinite love and trust, believed him.
Edwin returned to his place and age, but his heart ached for Lilya. Years rolled by. The lively man now looked wilted, the weight of the years and his broken promise breaking him down. He felt the hollow emptiness of his existence without her, his heart yearning for her touch, her warm smile.
Exhausted and frail, Edwin could not bear the agony. In despair, he decided to make another monumental decision- to permanently transport himself back to Lilya, fulfilling his promise.
With trembling hands and teary eyes, Edwin inputted a specific time and place in the wristwatchāback to Lilya, back to the warmth of love. He lay on his dusty bed for a while, holding the watch close to his heart and then pressed 'backward'.
With that, the enigma of the Time Traveler deepened, entwining itself with the town's folklore. The house was now empty, the echoes of Dr. Edwin's tireless footsteps silenced. The town lived on, growing old with the legend of their Time Traveler.
In an alternate timeline, perhaps, the Time Traveler fulfilled his promise, savored his love, and lives on, not in desolation, but in unity, echoing as a tale not of heartache and longing but of a love that transcended the boundaries of time and space.