Old Crooked Picture (a short boring story)

 

Wendy wandered around her campus aimlessly during break time - her other friends decided to have lunch outside the campus, but Wendy decided not to follow because her introverted self preferred to be alone when not in class. Also, she has a plan.

She walked through the corridors - with her headphone played her favourite old-fashioned music. Not too loud, not too soft either - so her anxiety self can sense danger but at the same time not wanting to have any form of contact with the reality. Her eyes rolled from left to right to make sure no one was following her, and she kept on turning around to take a quick glance if there is any potential attacker. She wrapped her hands around her pen in the pocket - incase of any onslaught, she could swing her arms and pricked the perpetrators eyes.

She walked and walked..until she reached the forest that shrouded the campus from the sunlight. She tried not to sway her mind from the intention - given she tried to avoid it for years. The campus was scary and bleak, but Wendy did not mind. She has faced many dark experiences in her life. A horror forest? Nah..Not in her list for a jump scare. 

The vibe in the forest was unsettling and hushed, just a sound of crickets and birds reverberate and no sign of any other human being's presence. The guard sometimes took a stroll to see any unintended threats - which btw a tiger once wandered around till the parking lot of the campus. No one was at the parking lot thankfully, and since then on the university staff took enormous precaution not to have another danger wildlife species to roam around freely. 

Wendy placed the headphones around her neck, and loosened her sleeve. She reached at the spot that she wanted, and stopped before looking around again. A tiger might come out and devour her, but this is her only chance. By the time sunset hits, she will lose her forever chance that came around one in 76 years.

At exactly 6.15 pm, Wendy dug up an old crooked picture that was buried underneath the ground that she stood on. She fumbled for the picture and brushed off the remnants of sands that covered the face that she so longing to see all tis while but avoid it. It was her one and only love - her numero uno, her vigilante, and her sidekick. For 46 years she haven't got her hands on that small photograph - but today there's no reason to avoid it anymore. 

Colson didn't survive the comet attack 76 years ago - when they were on a date. Colson sacrificed his life for her - pushed her aside just before the comet hits the ground. Wendy survived, but was time travelled 20 years in the future, and remained 20 years old since then. The only way to undo her immortality is to wait 46 years later, when the comet hits the earth again at a certain coordinate for her to die and meet her love again. 

If she stood at the right coordinate, the comet will only be able to hit her without annihilate the other breathing creatures on Earth. Wendy travelled to different states over the 46 years, went to different schools and graduated too many times - just like the vampire in twilight movies. The 46 painful years later finally came - and she closed her eyes, feeling the presence of the comet descending towards the Earth. 

Even with eyes closed, the light from the comet was imminent and palpable. She began to squint her already closed eyes. She heard people running. Mothers screamed to protect their children. The police are clearing the perimeters. The end was about to come, but what they didnt know is none of them are affected by the repercussions of the impact.

Wendy opened her eyes. She didn't know if its her imagination, or time suddenly slowed down when she saw the most beautiful thing on earth is descending towards her. The deafening sreaming from the distance suddenly became muffled, and it seemed like the trees were staring at her - paving way for her demise. She is not scared. She is more ready than ever to meet her true love. Tears ran down her eye. It's almost impossible to grasp that after 46 years, she finally get another chance. Will they be in heaven? Will they go to another world? She didn't know. Let the universe answer that after it destroyed her whole world 46 years ago...

A gigantic blast disseminated throughout, and the deafening noise reverberated surrounding her. The world she is in is suddenly invisible - just a massive white light appeared before her. She didn't feel any pain. She didn't budge. She surrendered herself to the universe. Then, she felt herself being levitated into the sky and thrown into a spiral where she spinned uncontrollably. What is this? Time warp? Back to the future? Or is she spiralling towards heaven? Or to another planet?

She felt nauseatic with all the spin, but the magical and mystical elements probably prevented her from throwing up. The free fall towards nowhere gets even more intense as time goes by. When will this end? Am I alive? Wendy thought but most of it all, she can't really think of something with her head spinning incessantly.

The free fall ended with a bang as she hit the ground from what seemed like another planet but familiar. She didnt feel any pain, not even a grimace with a fall thats hundreds of miles per hour. Magic? Was dumbledore behind this?

The ground blasted as if an atomic bomb was dropped from the sky. Wendy's vision got blurred for a minute, and all she can see is as if a lightnight has struck in front of her. As she regained her vision back, she saw a figure lying down few feets across her. No, she tought. It can't be. And the realization finally come to light - the planet she's in now is hugely familiar and she knew the place exactly.

It was 76 years ago - she was on a date with a hunk. They were on their rolls royce, stopped by to get an ice cream from a truck. What millineal in her current world would call it "viral" - this 70's ice cream was a favourite among the locals. No commercial promotion - just a tiny radio placed on the counter playing the beatles song. 

The human - identified as male - with burgandy hair slowly lilfted his face and grimaced in pain before looking up. Their eyes met, and tears ran down Wendy's eyes. It's him, she thought. He's here with me. And he's ALIVE!

Her chest tightened, her stomach flinched, and her unfathomable thoughts hurt her head more than the spiral chamber she was in a few minutes ago. She wanted to run, but her legs won't compromise. She was weak. She waited for 46 years - but her overwhelming feeling took over her strength. Alas, she broke down and cry. 

Colson got up, and stumbled towards her. He cupped her face with his soft hands, and slowly wiped her tears. "Shhh" he hushed her. She could see his beautiful hazel eyes gazing sharply, and she cried even more till her face red. "I'm here," he soothed her. 

Wendy threw her arms around him - held him so tightly as if he were to leave her again. Their warm embraced made the stars align in unison, and everything was back to normal. She was in the year 1970 again. Did the comet impact..made her travel back and to the future? Or..was it all a dream??