Ever since she had returned to the 31st century, Jen had been going around in a haze, like she was sleepwalking and couldn't wake up.
Despite the fact that this time, this world, was her own, the one that she'd grown up in, everything seemed so unfamiliar and distant. Trinkets that had held so much nostalgia, so many good memories, now seemed meaningless in comparison to what she'd lost. It felt like she'd lost a home, her real home, and she would never get it back.
In her apartment, where Alex had moved out all he owned, she was met by the dusty darkness of her absence. Dead plants were withered on the windowsill; there was a dry musky smell that made her feel unwelcome, and the general emptiness made Jen wonder why she'd ever lived there.
One thing she couldn't get out of her mind, though, was what happened to Wes? Being in the future, she was sure there would be records and she knew where to find them. The only thing holding her back was fear. What if he got married and had children, never to think of her again? On the other hand, what if he pined for her his whole life, miserable and alone? Despite the circumstance, she had to find out, she had to know.
Although dusty, the computer interface still worked and in it held every record and piece of information her status would allow her to see. She switched it on and took a few seconds to re-educate herself with the 31st century technology.
"Locate any and all files relating to Wesley Collins." Jen commanded.
"There are 671,992 Wesley Collins on record, specify." The computer droned out.
"Wesley Collins, born 7th May 1974." Jen replied.
The computer beeped, signaling that the search was successful. "Found: 2 Files to match Wesley Collins, born 7th May 1974."
Transfer to portable pad." Jen commanded, walking to her desk and waiting a few seconds for the data to be received in her handheld computer. She sat in her chair, leaning back. Taking a deep breath, she tapped the first file open, which was his official record as issued by the Time Force Police. It read:
Wesley Collins
Born: 7th May 1974
Died: 17th August 2021 – Liver Failure/ Drug Abuse
Jen reread his cause of death. Live Failure/ Drug Abuse. Live Failure/ Drug Abuse. But how? Wes would never be so stupid; his father would never have let him do this to himself… unless his father had…. She read on.
Biography:
Wesley Collins, briefly the Red Ranger due to an incident in the Time Force continuum, was brought up a wealthy man. By the time of his father's death in 2003, he squandered his money on material possessions. He was often drunk, which contributed to his death in 2021, although reportedly died from an overdose of a 21st century drug. He never married and had no children.
End File.
Jen couldn't believe what she was reading; it wasn't possible that this was her Wes, there was just no way. She rechecked all of the information and dates which, to her knowledge, was all correct. She'd ruined his life, it was her; she knew it was all because of her. She began to cry, struggling for breath. Her eyes kept wandering over the text, each word paining her. She had to shut the file off.
However, it couldn't escape her notice that there was another file, which was unorthodox as Time Force only ever gave one report on the subject. She dried her eyes enough to be able to read and caught her breath, compelled to read the next file, though terrified it would destroy her image of Wes further.
The file was encrypted, password protected to only be opened by Jen, though from who this was from she was unsure. At her fingerprint, the file decoded itself. It seemed, though Jen found it too unlikely, like a letter.
Records showed that the letter was preserved and then transferred from the original dating back a thousand years. She held her breath… it couldn't be.
Jen,
So lately, been wondering
Who will be there to take my place?
When I'm gone, you'll need love
To light the shadows on your face.
If a great wave shall fall and fall on us all
Then between the sand and stone
Could you make it on your own?
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high, or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
And maybe, I'll find out
A way to make it back someday
To watch you, to guide you
Through the darkest of your days
If a great wave shall fall and fall on us all
Then I hope there's someone out there
Who can bring me back to you.
If I could, then I would
I'll go wherever you will go
Way up high, or down low
I'll go wherever you will go
Run away with my heart
Run away with my hope
Run away with my love
I know now, just quite how
My life and love might still go on
In your heart, in your mind,
I'll stay with you for all of time.
Wes.
Jen cried; she couldn't help it. His letter was so beautiful, so filled with hope and promise for his future, but his file showed nothing but loneliness and pain. She'd made such a mess; she should have never gone back to 2001. Now she understood why the Time Force Agency were so rigid with their rules: terrible tragedies happen to those affected by time. Poor Wes, he had leant that firsthand and she would be the one who would have to live with the blame her whole life, live with the knowledge that she'd destroyed the life of the only person who mattered to her. That fact broke her heart completely, and she vowed to herself that she would never play with the timeline again, having learnt it would only bring searing, blistering pain.