Fragments of Life
On the shelf, DVDs were ordered by release date - It's a Wonderful Life (1946), H.G. Wells' The Time Machine (1960), Somewhere in Time (1980), Time Bandits (1981), Flight of the Navigator (1986), Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989), Terminator 2 (1991), Groundhog Day (1993), Twelve Monkeys (1995), Frequency (2000) then Donnie Darko (2001). Except for Back to the Future Parts I, II, and III, which were placed between Time Bandits and Flight of the Navigator because the Robert Zemeckis classic was in a box set. His collection included The Butterfly Effect (2004), Source Code (2011), Predestination (2014) and Interstellar (2014). But for Alex Krayne 'Somewhere in Time' starring Christopher Reeve and Jane Seymour was the all time, absolute ultimate in time travel cinema.
On the desk, a scattered pile of photographs from the long line of Alex's life. Childhood photos of birthdays he could not remember, Halloween costumes that hide his face but not his age, and endless Christmas mornings surrounded by torn wrapping paper. Beside these photos a young Alex tries hard to look older flanked by friends from High School, then at College, and at office functions at the start of his career. A single line of photos form a column down the middle of the large desk. From top to bottom gleam the smiling faces. First of young girls he chased, then beautiful young women for whom he still held flames, and at last a stunning and sophisticated profile which dominated the bulk of the column. His childhood crushes, adolescent wild oats, and true everlasting life partner. The other side of the pillar is a smattering of life with his daughter. Trips with his wife. And various outings with the Wimotach Falls Senior Center.
On the television, Dr. Finney explains to Richard Collier, once again, how he time traveled to 1571 through the power of self-suggestion. Alex moves his lips in time with Richard, reciting lines that he has heard innumerable times. In each film, the method of time travel varied. But the premise was the exact same. Time travel was possible. And Alex had done it once. He was certain that on the night his wife died, he had slipped through the hospital wall and into their daughter's playroom. On the floor sat Evangeline and Meg. They played with the tea set he bought on his business trip to Chicago. Alex knelt to play with them, kissed his small daughter on the crown of her head, and his wife full on the lips. The sun shone through the lace curtains, and music from the kitchen radio drifted through the air. Was that 'Stand By Me' or 'Earth Angel'? He had a hard time telling the difference, and what did it matter as long as they were all together again.
On the floor, a pale blue blanket was spread across the old and worn carpet. At the head of the blanket Alex placed his pillow from the bed he had shared with Evangeline for fifty-six years. He was certain Reeve and Seymour had gotten it right. Hadn't he tried almost all the other methods in an attempt to be with her again? There was no way in the world he could obtain uranium, but he had enjoyed owning the DeLorean while it lasted. And while Bill Murray made him laugh, the idea was a farce. Alex had trekked to Punxsutawney eight times in the last ten years. He was too old, and too tired to play any more games. Tonight, he just had to decide into which photograph he wanted to travel.
THE END