Predictably, many hands were in the air when the lecture ended. Although Jo had a million questions swirling through her mind, she had no idea how to form them into words. After all, how did one discuss an experience they'd actually had with someone who knew only theories?

The lecture ended, and the auditorium gradually thinned out until only Dean, Fritz, and Jo were left.

The three of them walked to the campus bar, where Fritz and Dean ordered beer and Fritz bought Jo a screwdriver. They sat at a table and talked.

"What made you want to become a professor?" Jo asked Dean.

Dean took a sip of his beer.

"Ever since I was a little boy, I've always been curious about how the world really is," he said. "When I was little, I used to gaze up at the stars in the sky and wonder how far away they were and what they were made of. I decided that when I was old enough, I would go to school and find out, and I did just that." He smiled. "And what about you...is it Josephine?"

"Right, but you can call me Jo." Jo took a swallow of her drink. "Math and science were never really my forte. I've always been more of a writer. I have written some science fiction, however."

Dean cleared his throat.

"I'm more interested in science fact than in science fiction. I know the subjects I discussed tonight are pure speculation, but wouldn't it be amazing if they were someday proven to be true!"

You wouldn't believe the stories I could tell you, Jo wanted to say, but knew she couldn't.

"It would indeed be amazing," Fritz agreed. "This word contains so many wonders, and yet it seems that, no matter how many new discoveries are made, so much more is yet to be learned. I myself have always been intrigued with the subject of time travel. For instance, if one could only travel back in time and prevent a major tragedy, such as a war or a political assassination, the future could be much improved."

That might have indeed happened, Jo thought to herself.

The three finished their drinks and then went their separate ways.

"You appear to be deep in thought," Fritz remarked as he drove Jo home.

"If you could go back in time and change one thing, what would it be?" asked Jo.

"Oh, that is easy! Of course I would use my opportunity to warn Minna and her spouse before they set out on that fatal trip. And what about you, Josephine? What one thing would you go back in time and change, if you could?"

Jo bit her lip, deep in thought.

"Hmm. Well, I suppose I'd go back and prevent my Mom's miscarriage if I could, but I don't even know what caused it. I was so little then, and I didn't know what was going on."

Fritz patted her hand.

"Dearest Josephine, I know you would have prevented that if you had been able."

Absorbed in her memories of taking Dieter's hand and leading him into the unknown, Jo didn't respond.

One day the following week, Jo was in the university library looking in the astrophysics section when she noticed the blonde who'd smiled at her during Dean's lecture doing the same thing.

"Finding anything good?" the girl asked her.

"I just got here," Jo replied.

The girl frowned.

"Hmm. Aren't you in one of my classes?"

"Yes, we have philosophy together."

The girl selected a book.

"This one looks pretty good. See anything you want?"

Jo saw a book with the title 'The Heavens Declare the Glory.'

"I think I'll check out this one," she said.

The girls checked their books out and left the library, walking outside to the picnic tables.

"Now we can talk!" said the blonde, taking a seat. "My name's Sybil Bohmke, by the way. What's yours?"

Jo took a seat, feeling as if a bucket of cold water had just been dumped on her head. Werner and Sybille.

"I...uh...my name is Josephine March, but most people call me Jo. I-I used to know a family named Bohmke."

The wind gently lifted Sybil's hair. She brushed it back from her face with her fingers.

"Really? Where are you from?"

Jo gave a slight shiver.

"I've lived right here in Concord my whole life." Not really.

Sybil stroked her bare arms as she talked.

"So have I, but my father grew up in England. I'm the youngest of five and the only girl. I was named for my grandmother on my father's side, except that she spells it slightly differently because she was born in Germany."

Jo gulped. Could it be? It must be!

"So how did you end up living in Concord?" she asked.

"My Dad went to university here. That's where he met my Mom. They married after graduating college, and my oldest brother was born nine months later." Sybil giggled.

"I'm the middle child of three girls." Jo crossed her legs underneath the table. "My older sister's name is Meg. She's married to John, and they have twins, Johnny and Daisy. My younger sister is Beth."

"Cool! I always wondered what it would be like to have sisters." Sybil sighed. "Of course, I might not ever know what it's like to be a Mom. My boyfriend just broke up with me. He's going to school in California, and he didn't want to have a long distance relationship."

Jo thought of something.

"I know someone you might like to meet."

"Really? Who?" Sybil wanted to know.

"He lives next door to me." Jo watched a bird land on a bush several feet away. "He had the biggest crush on me for the longest time. He took it badly when I told him things would never work out between us because we're too much alike."

Sybil brushed a strand of hair back.

"What did you mean by that?"

"I meant we're both too temperamental - we both fly off the handle too easily." That had certainly been true of Jo before her life-changing experience, but now she wasn't so sure anymore. "He's a nice boy and a lot of fun - cute, too!"

Sybil grinned.

"Well, you've definitely got my curiosity up!"

"Cool! Do you want me to set something up, then?"

"Definitely!"

"Great! I'll be in touch with him then, and let you know."

Jo found the thought of setting Teddy up on a blind date with a possible link to her other life to be exhilarating.