The Unchangeable by Bryony Lorimer

prompt: The Time Bubble

On Friday after work, Alice walks the snow-covered streets towards the tea shop two blocks north instead of riding the subway home. The shop advertises palm readings: Open late weekdays. 

Despite frozen fingers, she hesitates, considers how desperate she is. Very. Six months of pining for him, six months of grief. Is the future just more of the same? Pushing open the door, a bell rings overhead and it takes a moment for her eyes to adjust to the dim interior.

“Can I help you, dear?” asks an elderly woman.

“Yes. I came for a palm reading.”

The woman frowns. “The reader’s away today. Tea instead?”

“It’s okay.” She turns to go.

“Wait. I’ll bring tea, it’s cold outside.”

As she sits, she imagines the weekend ahead, the fantasising about him. She knows it’s not healthy, reminds herself that’s why she’s here.

Leaves swirl inside the teapot as the woman sets it down. She has kind eyes.

“What type is it?” asks Alice.

“The type that helps you sleep and wake up brand new.”

She takes a sip, pleasant enough. Then another. “What do I owe?”

“No charge, dear.”

She goes to bed as normal, stares at the ceiling and replays a fictional scene. The one where he asks her to dinner, declares his love.

She wakes early to the light of summer. The snow is gone. Recalling the tea, the woman’s kindness, she remembers there was something to forget but doesn’t know what. She feels light, happy. Her thoughts are completely her own. And yet instinctively, she knows today is that day, six months in the past when it began. A note on the fridge reminds her to meet Marie at the cinema at one. 

Marie waits at the ticket booth. “I invited Steve.” She winks. “Save the seats while I buy popcorn. He’ll be here soon.”

Why is Alice drawing a blank at Steve? She finds a seat, reserves two more with her jacket. A man approaches. He is handsome, resembles Marie. Does she know him? Somehow yes and no.

“Hey, Alice.” His legs brush her knees as he squeezes past. He talks until Marie arrives with the popcorn.

The trailers start. His presence is intoxicating and she remembers now she loved him first right here and now. She remembers what happens after: Marie and Steve leaving in a taxi to visit their dad, the collision with a truck.
Alice whispers in his ear she needs to speak to him outside.

He laughs. “After the film.”

She tries Marie. Same response. She begs them not to take a taxi then frustrated, leaves. They do not follow. Praying she has disrupted the future, she walks to the tea shop.

The palm reader is in, the same woman from before. She examines Alice’s hand. “There are some things time cannot change, dear.”

“Will they still die?”

The woman smiles. “Love. I was talking about love.”

​Leaving fifty dollars, Alice runs out the door and back towards the cinema.

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Bryony Lorimer is originally from Scotland and lives in Edmonton. She is working towards her Certificate in Creative Writing with the University of Toronto. Her main loves are running, reading and writing short stories.