The Case Of Ali

Chapter 5. A Peek Through Time

Ali tossed and turned in bed. She was so tired but couldn't fall asleep. The letter from Jake haunted her. Did she actually get that letter from Jake? And did he really say that he was writing to her from the future...year 2100. Did she actually read that in his letter? Ali threw off the covers and made a dash to her office. The letter was still there...along with that weird picture of her house that Jake sent her. Ali gingerly picked up the picture and examined it...and right there affixed to the outside wall left of the front door was that same ugly mail box. 

She felt like she was hypnotically drawn into the picture and she quickly dropped it and pushed it away from her. What the hell was that she felt? Ali couldn't believe that after 100 years the mail box was still standing and looked the same. She looked at the clock; it was one AM. Ali had never given much thought to time before that day. What is TIME really? It impacts everyone and everything, but who can explain it?

Jake said he fell through TIME and ended up in the year 2100. How does that even happen? Was there anyone living now that would still be alive in that time? Ali did the math; she did not think so. In a hundred years everyone they knew now including her would be gone courtesy of TIME. She thought a physicist might be able to shed some light on what happen to Jake, but she had to be careful.  She did not want to be hauled off to a mental institution.

She decided to leave a letter from her  and addressed to Jake in the ugly mailbox. It brought Jake's letter to her, maybe it will take hers to him. Ali felt a little better  as  she picked up a piece of stationary and a pen. Her hands began to tremble as she wrote.

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"Dear Jake,

I got your letter and I am devastated. I know it's from you because it's in your handwriting. And yes I thought it was your way of reneging on your promises to me, but then I thought about your mother and I know that you would never take off and leave her after what happened with your dad, so as fantastic as this is...I believe you and I want to help.

I am going to meet with Professor Wright from school. He is a Physicist. Maybe he can explain how you ended up 100 years into the future and I am hoping he can help me to get you back home. On your end see if there is anyone who can help...someone who you trust. A hundred years from now technology will be much more advanced and sophisticated. Just be careful so you are not thrown into an institution for talking crazy.

I know I am the one who was always arguing that racism would be a thing of the past a hundred years into the future. You argued against that, saying nothing will ever change; well you are there now; how is it? Does racism still exist? I cant help but wonder if our arguments somehow triggered this as some kind of experiment by the universe.

I love you Jake and I want to have a life with you in our time. Please try everything within your power to get back home to me...even if life for you is better in the future...I know I am selfish. Please come back to me.

All my love Ali"

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If how Ali calculated the time was correct, then she had to hurry, before Jake turned into an old man. Next day Ali went to see professor Wright, the physicist. Ali thought that he  was actually quite hansom but lack a sense of style.  He was about the same height as Jake and  looked to be in his mid thirties, somewhat young to be heading up the physics department. He had the most beautiful red hair she had ever seen and compelling sapphire blue eyes. His jacket looked like it was from the eighteen century. And Ali wondered if he was a time traveler like Jake. Mr. Wright was very playful and funny but there was something else about this man that Ali could not put her finger on, but her sixth sense was on high alert.