Lila stared out the window of the small bookshop, watching the rain trickle down the glass as she sipped her coffee. She had always loved the quiet corners of this place—old, dusty, and filled with stories of the past. History had always intrigued her, but not just the kind you read in textbooks. She was fascinated by the lives that had been lived, the moments that were lost to time.
That’s when she first saw him—Ethan. He was standing at the far end of the shop, browsing through a collection of ancient maps. He looked out of place, as if he had walked in from another era. His clothes, though modern, had a certain timeless quality. There was something about the way he carried himself, with a quiet confidence, that made Lila pause. She wasn’t one to approach strangers, but something about Ethan felt different.
After gathering her courage, she wandered over to where he stood. “Looking for something specific?” she asked, trying to sound casual.
Ethan glanced up, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Just browsing,” he replied, his voice smooth and calm. “But I’m always drawn to old things. They remind me of where we’ve been.”
Lila was intrigued. Most people she met never shared her passion for history, let alone expressed it so poetically. “Do you have a favorite period in history?”
He hesitated, as if considering his answer carefully. “It’s hard to choose just one. Every era has its charm, its mysteries. But I suppose the 1800s hold a special place for me.”
Lila smiled. “A romantic at heart?”
He chuckled softly. “You could say that.”
As the rain outside intensified, they found themselves engrossed in conversation. What started as small talk about history soon turned into hours of sharing stories, ideas, and dreams. Ethan had an uncanny knowledge of the past—details that went far beyond what any history book could provide. He described events with such vivid clarity that it felt as if he had lived through them.
Lila couldn’t help but feel a strange connection to him. There was something about Ethan that made her feel like she had known him for years, even though they had just met. The way he spoke, the way he looked at her, as if he knew more than he was letting on.
Days turned into weeks, and Lila and Ethan continued to meet at the bookshop. It became their spot, a place where time seemed to stand still, just for the two of them. With each passing day, Lila found herself falling deeper for Ethan. He was unlike anyone she had ever known—mysterious, thoughtful, and kind. But as close as they grew, there was always a distance in Ethan’s eyes, a sadness he couldn’t hide.
One evening, as they walked through the quiet streets after the shop closed, Lila finally asked the question that had been gnawing at her for weeks. “Ethan, who are you, really?”
He stopped walking and looked at her, the moonlight casting a soft glow on his face. “Lila, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Her heart raced. She had always known there was more to him than he let on, but nothing could have prepared her for what came next.
“I’m a time traveler,” he said quietly, watching her reaction carefully. “I come from different periods in history, moving between centuries. That’s why I know so much about the past. Because I’ve lived through it.”
Lila stared at him, her mind racing to process what he had just said. “A time traveler?” she repeated, incredulous.
He nodded, taking a step closer to her. “I know it sounds impossible, but it’s the truth. I’ve been traveling through time for years. It’s not something I control—it just happens. One moment I’m here, the next I’m in another era.”
She shook her head, trying to make sense of it all. “But… how? And why?”
Ethan sighed. “I don’t know why it happens. It just does. I’ve tried to stay in one time, but I can’t. So I stopped trying. I’ve lived in ancient Rome, medieval Europe, the Renaissance… I’ve seen it all.”
Lila’s mind spun with questions, but one thought stood out above the rest. “So… you’ll leave? You’ll disappear, just like that?”
Ethan looked at her, his eyes filled with sadness. “Yes. I never know when, but I will. That’s why I tried to keep my distance. I didn’t want to hurt you.”
Lila felt a lump form in her throat. She had fallen in love with him, but now the future seemed so uncertain. “How long do we have?”
“I don’t know,” Ethan said softly. “It could be days, weeks, or even hours.”
Tears welled up in Lila’s eyes, but she blinked them away. “So what do we do now?”
Ethan took her hands in his. “We make the most of the time we have. We live in the moment, and we cherish it.”
And that’s exactly what they did. Every moment they spent together was precious—every laugh, every touch, every kiss. They explored the city, visited museums, and walked through parks, soaking in every second as if it were their last. They made a promise to each other that they wouldn’t let the fear of the future take away the joy of the present.
But time, as Ethan knew all too well, was unpredictable. One night, as they lay together under the stars, he whispered in her ear, “Lila, I love you.”
She smiled, tears sliding down her cheeks. “I love you too.”
The next morning, Ethan was gone.
Lila woke up alone, the bed cold beside her. She knew this day would come, but it didn’t make it any easier. As she sat in the quiet of her apartment, surrounded by memories of their time together, she realized something important. Love, like time, was fleeting, but it was also eternal in its own way. Even though Ethan was gone, their love lived on in every moment they had shared.
Weeks passed, and though Lila missed Ethan, she held onto the promise they had made—to live in the moment. She carried their memories with her, and whenever she felt sad, she would visit the bookshop where it all began.
One evening, as she was browsing through the shelves, she noticed a small note tucked inside one of the books. It was Ethan’s handwriting.
“Lila, if you’re reading this, it means I’ve returned to your time. I’ll be waiting for you where it all started. Yours, Ethan.”
Her heart raced as she rushed to the bookshop’s front door. And there, standing in the rain just like the first time they met, was Ethan, smiling at her with that same quiet confidence.
“I promised I’d come back,” he said softly.
And in that moment, Lila knew that no matter where or when, their love would always find a way.
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