As we made our way back to our old alma mater, she finally spoke up. "I don't want to leave. There is too much to see here", she said sorrowfully. My mind began racing as I tried to figure out how I could convince her to come back with me. "But I love you, and you love me. If you do this, we'll probably never going to see each other again.", I pointed out. "I know", she said while sighing, "but look how free everyone seems, how much better life looks". "I want to argue, but it does seem exciting. It will be trouble for you to establish a life here and now. What about your life back home?", I said. Her response told me that she'd been thinking about this for quite some time; "I looked on the internet, and apparently, there is a way for me to get ID and finish college, and I am not really leaving much behind. Won't you stay with me?" So, that pretty much settled things, as there is no convincing Tamsin to not do what she wanted to do. My choice was to stay with her or go back to the time where I belonged. I was so torn, but I really didn't feel like I belonged here, and I told Tamsin that. "So, this is goodbye then?" She asked, as a tear trailed down her cheek. We shared a kiss while our tears slowed down our faces.

 

 

 

She walked me to the machine, giving me some of the items that we picked up during our travels. "Take these to remember our trip and me", she said. I kissed her once more and took one final look before getting in the machine. I asked her to set the date and time to the exact date and time that we left, shut the door as the tears flowed, and before I knew it, I heard the familiar thud. I had made it back to my time. It felt like it had been an eternity since we left, but I was back in the same instant. I felt like half of me was missing, but I opened the door to see Jess and Mike waiting expectantly. My tears started flowing again as I remembered that Tamsin was gone. I told Jess and Mike everything about our trip, and broke the news. While Mike and Jess were shocked, Jess nodded like she understood. After I had finished our tale, I found that I couldn't talk anymore; I had a big lump in my throat, and there were not enough words to get around or over that lump. I had to get some rest and figure out what to do with my life without Tamsin in it. As time passes, it became easier to get through my days. Finally, just before this time capsule was due to be buried, I woke up one day, no longer feeling like half a person. I felt whole. I finally looked at all the things that Tamsin had given me when she was telling me goodbye. Many were useless now, because the technology had not been invented yet. I didn't want to influence the future too much, so the phone and other technological marvels were put into the time capsule, and sealed up, not to be opened until 2030. As for me, I am continuing at college, soon to graduate, but I changed my track, because no more experimenting for me. I have decided that I will continue to law school and become a lawyer. When you find this letter, please find out if Tamsin Jackson is all right and let me know. My name is Mark Cartwright, and hopefully you can find me and let me know how she is."

 

There was silence after the last line of the letter was read out loud. Quite a few of the spectators had shock on their faces and still more had tears welling up or trickling down their faces. I knew in that moment that I would find Tamsin and let Mark know how she was doing. It was weird thinking about how to find her and him. Right now, she's not quite here, but soon she will be, and I will meet her when she does.