The boy came closer.
Emma swallowed, and took two steps back.
The boy held up his hands. "I'm sorry, I don't mean to scare you. I brought something for you." He opened his bag and took out a little package. He held it out to her. "It's a cheese sandwich." He smiled softly.
Emma hesitated, but reached out and took the package from him. "Thanks." She immediately opened the paper and started to eat. She hadn't realised just how hungry she had become.
"You're not from here, are you?" The boy asked, as Emma was chewing up the last bits of the sandwich.
Emma hesitated, before shaking her head. If only he knew.
"You stand out." The boy said. He opened his bag again, and handed her a dress. "It's from the donation box. I hope it fits." The boy blushed. "I wasn't sure."
Emma accepted the dress. It was light pink and checked. She held it in her hands. He was nice, but Emma couldn't shake of her suspicions. "Why are you helping me?"
The boy shrugged. "My parents taught me to always help out when I can."
"Sounds like good parents."
"They are." The boy shifted on his feet. "My name's Timothy, by the way."
"Emma."
Timothy smiled. "Nice to meet you, Emma."
Emma smiled back.
"Are you okay? Looks like you've been bleeding." Timothy was looking at her arms.
Emma looked down. Her jeans had been torn in places. Her arms were covered in small cuts. "It's okay. Just thorns." Her hand reached up to her forehead. "Hit my head, though."
"Yeah, that can hurt." Timothy replied. "But since you're still talking, I don't think you need any medical attention." He shifted on his feet. "I suggest you sit down, though."
Emma chuckled. "Yeah, I probably should." She sat down on the grass, leaning against a big oak tree.
Timothy sat down where he stood, about a meter away.
Emma hesitated. She didn't want to have her fears proven right. "What day is it today?"
Timothy grinned. "February second."
Emma nodded. At least the date hasn't changed. She hesitated. She didn't want him thinking she was stupid. "What year is it again?"
Timothy laughed. "You must have hit your head pretty hard, to not remember that." He smiled at her. "It's 1962."
Emma sucked in a deep breath. Oh god. "Are you sure?"
"Of course I'm sure." Timothy rolled his eyes, still smiling. "I've had a whole month to get used to the new number. I'm not a moron."
Chapter
Emma hesitated. But she could no longer bear this burden by herself. She took a deep breath, before turning to Timothy. "Can you keep a secret?"
Timothy frowned. "Is something wrong? Is that why you're here? Are you running from something? I won't tell anyone I saw you."
"That's very kind of you, but that's not what I meant."
Emma took a deep breath. "You said I stood up, what did you mean with that?"
Timothy shrugged. "Your clothes are different. The way you talk. The way you act. You're not from here."
"You're right." Emma sniffed. "I'm not from here."
"Why did you come here?"
"I don't know." Emma shook her head. "I didn't mean to. I just was." A tear fell down her cheek.
Timothy scooted closer. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know. Something happened, and I don't know how or why. It's something unbelievable, something unexplainable. Impossible. And yet, here I am, with you, in 1962." She took a deep breath, and turned her face away from the boy. She couldn't look him in the eyes. "When I left the house this morning, it wasn't 1962. It was 2018."
Timothy stayed quiet for a while. When he did speak, his voice was a whisper "Are you sure it's not just your head mixing up your thoughts?"
"I'm sure." Emma whispered back.
"Okay." The boy nodded. He blew out his breath. "I don't know how this happened, but I'm glad you ended up in 1962."
"You believe me?" Emma asked. She couldn't believe it.
Timothy shrugged. "I knew you were different. I thought you were from another country, though, not from another century." He smiled. "I believe in science, time travel is not beyond the possibilities."
Emma smiled. "You're not exactly what I expected."
Timothy smiled. "What are you going to do?"
Emma shrugged. "I haven't thought that far, to be honest." She sighed. "I have been thinking all evening, trying to figure out what happened. Once I figure that out, I can start to work on a way back."
"What if there is no way back?"
Emma sighed. "I don't really want to think about that right now." She sighed again.
"Why don't you come to Poplar with me?"
Emma frowned. "Poplar?"
"It's where I live." Timothy shrugged. "You could stay there. It's close by, so you can always come back to the forest. But we'll better wait until it gets dark."
"Don't you have to go home? Won't your parents wonder where you are?" She smiled. "Don't get me wrong, I am glad I'm not here by myself, but I'm sure you have someplace to be."
Timothy shook his head. "I told them I was having dinner with Jack. He's my best friend. They won't expect me back until the evening."
Emma nodded. "As long as I'm not getting you in trouble."
"I guess you don't have anywhere to stay?"
Emma chuckled. "You shouldn't worry about me. I'll find some place. You've already done too much."
"I have a place you can stay. My mother used to work there. I know where they keep the spare key."
"That's very kind of you, but I don't want to impose. You've already done so much."
"You're not imposing, really. It's a kind of hospital. Anyway, they wouldn't mind. They take in people like you, all the time. Well, not exactly like you."
Emma smiled. "Okay, then." She nodded. "If you're sure. But I'm paying you."
"I am. Sure, that is." He stood up, dusting the mud from his trousers. "You should probably get dressed first. Else, you'll draw quite the attention."
Emma also stood up. She shrugged out of her coat.
Timothy blushed and quickly turned around. He hadn't expected her to get changed in front of him.
Emma chuckled. She took off her sweater and put on the dress, on top of her t-shirt. It was a tight fit, but it would work. She wiggled out of her jeans and stuffed her clothes into the backpack. "You can turn back around." She smiled. "It's safe now."
Timothy handed her the coat she dropped. "Here. You'll be cold without it."
Emma smiled. "Thank you."