Short Story

1. A Day in the Life of a Time Traveler
By: Jorge Barzanas
My name is Virgil Delta F5. I wake up not remembering anything except the year and
place of my birth. The calendar on the wall says it’s November 18, 2013. My GPS indicates I’m
in Midwest U.S.A. But here’s what I remember. I was born in Lunar Colony Alpha –B4, District
12, on April 9, A.D. 2099
I get up and find the strangest human being I’ve ever seen standing at the foot of my bed.
“Finally, you’re awake. Breakfast is ready” She says, beaming I look at her closely and I gasp
because she looks very familiar as if I’ve known her for a long time. I ask her, “Who are you?”
saying with full confusion in my head. “What are you talking about Arthur? I’m Aurora Delta you
wife!” She replies. She quickly kiss my lips then I feel all of a sudden that there is a small spark
of current flowing inside my veins. I’m shock! And my eyes become gigantic and round. I cannot
say a word after she kissed me.
I eat with her with a zippered mouth, she prepared a strong black coffee for me and a wheat
bread for breakfast. My thoughts now begin to knock, why am I here? Why is she calling me
Arthur? Wait! I know Arthur! Did she said Aurora Delta?! I remember Arthur is the name of my
great Grand Father. He invented the very first time machine! My great Grand Father Arthur is
then married to Aurora Delta. Oh no! It can’t be. It means that I kissed my great Grand Mother
Aurora Delta? But wait I’m in the big and serious dilemma right now, why am I here? I still don’t
remember anything. Meaning to say if I’m here with Aurora Delta then the date is November 18,
2013, I came back to the time far decades ago? Aurora holds my hand and says “what’s the
problem Arthur? You didn’t touch your coffee neither eat anything that I’ve prepared. Is there
any problem? It seems you’re out of your mind. Maybe you’re just tired. By the way, what’s with
that fancy dress your wearing? Are you again going to test your space machine?” I just simply
smile and nods at her. My head is full of questions and I think I will going to explode. Maybe it’s
just dream! A nightmare that I can’t remember why I’m in here. So I bite my thumb to test if I’m
dreaming. “Oouch! That hurts! Now I am convince that this is not a dream. I’m in reality, I need
help. I have to tell Aurora!
“You have to help me, please! I’m not Arthur. I don’t know how I came here. I am Virgil
Delta. I think I came from the future. I came from Lunar Colony Alpha, District 12 and was born

2. in 2099. I don’t know if you know that place but you must help me in any way possible.” Saying
this to her desperately. She smiles and nods at me while saying “just be calm, I know, I know.
The moment Arthur was gone I waited until he comes back but it’s been 2 years already since
he left me all alone then you came in, I know and I can say you are not Arthur because from the
moment I kissed you I felt something different though you look very similar to him. I really
thought Arthur came back but I was wrong then I pretended to act as normal as if nothing
happens. I’m just waiting for you to say you’re not Arthur. So I assume that Arthur went to the
future because he was working on the space time machine the last time I’ve seen him.” Telling
this to me with a tear on her eyes.
“I can help you. I have an idea! I still do have the space time machine Arthur was making
before he left me. You can fix it and maybe you can reversed its function and set the time where
you came from and eventually maybe Arthur will come back again to me also.” She added with
excitement. I don’t know if I can fix it. I have no idea how I can renovate that machine but I’ll try
my best.
The sun is already up and we start to fix together the time machine, and as we repair the
engine my memory begins to restore. I already remember who I am. The best space time
machine pilot was embedded to my name. Unluckily there’s a malfunction the last time I was in
the flight. Maybe that’s the reason why Arthur and I swapped era. “It’s no impossible for me to
fix the time machine because of my expertise”. Telling this to Aurora. She smiles, continue
working hard and giving help to me in any way possible. At last, we finish fixing the time
machine for the straight of 5 hours. Aurora smiles at me and with excitement she hugs me very
tight. I can feel and see the very perceptible joy in the face of my great grandmother.
It’s already dark, “now we will test the proficiency of our space time machine” I say. I go
inside the control panel and starts to push the buttons and turn it all into activation. The
machine’s engine starts to vibrate. “Yes! The machine is working!” I shout and with full joy on
my face. Now I am in the crucial part of saying goodbye to my great grandmother. “I am about to
live you and few hours from now you are going to see Arthur again. Thank you for the hospitality
you showed to me. I owe you a lot my great grandmother. I have to say goodbye” I say to her.
She replies with tears of joy “take care of yourself Mr. Virgil Delta. Have a safe trip back to your
time” I’m all set to go back where I came. “goodbye!” the lasts word I say to her. In just a blink
of an eye I am home. I did it! I am here. I wonder if my great grandfather did it as well. I wonder
if Arthur made it.