Claire saw him, after ten years, ten long years she saw him. She felt her heart skip a beat seeing him again, he was wearing the hat she bought for him she felt her face flush to see him still wearing that hat it was like nothing changed, he was with a friend, a new friend, no a child and just like that her heart was yanked out of her beating chest. She has never seen that child, who was he? Did Layton move on so quickly after her death? She knew it was bound to happen. She was gone for ten years. He had to have moved on. She just assumed it would never actually happen or she would never have to witness it. Did his new family know where the hat came from? Did they know why it meant to so much to both him? Who did this kid belong to?
They were getting closer Claire's heart beat quicker and quicker by the minute. It was like being in the time machine that unfortunate day, hearing Bill's not so confident voice as she stepped into the machine for the last time. She needed to think of a way out he couldn't see her, not like this on the streets, after ten years he just couldn't see her with his young son? What would happen? Would it get awkward? How would Layton explain to this young child who she is, or was to a small child who just won't and can't understand. She couldn't do this. She wasn't going to do this.
She put her hat down to cover her face and looked down, pretended they weren't there, like their existence didn't throw her for a loop. Pretended that whatever happened ten years ago didn't happen, because now it didn't matter. He had a family and a child maybe children. Those many years ago were nothing, but a distant memory, if only she could go back in time and stop herself from getting into that time machine, just staying with her beloved that day, none of this would've happened that could be her child he is walking with. this all could've been different if she just didn't get in the machine.
She felt the air shift as they walked past her, she could feel Layton's eyes on her as he turned back around to look at her. "Do not look back Claire." she told herself.