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A Modern-Day Fairy Tale

I was once told that time travel is only possible if you can travel through space at the same time. The man who told me this tried his best to explain to me how and why, but my little thinker is just not big enough. When I started pondering the idea on my own level of comprehension, it kind of made perfect sense. For everything moves around in space. Were I travel back a day back in time without travelling through space as well, I would end up dead. For the Earth would be in a completely different place then. Whether this was what he was trying to explain to me, I do not know. Time travelling is an interesting topic, and I remember that in a book once given to me by my late grandmother, I read a story about a time traveller who was having great difficulties coping with his life. This, too, was a rather complicated tale and I hope I can retell the story in such a way that both you and I will understand it.  

When George wakes up, it feels like any other day. He told Julius yesterday that it would be a nice day for a picnic in the park. Of course, Julius already knew then, that it was a great day for it. He takes his time getting dressed and having breakfast and then goes out to get some drinks and food at the local supermarket where he is a regular and they know him by name. The guy at the till wishes him a wonderful time as George tells him that he is going to meet up a with Julius in a park nearby.  

Unbeknownst to George, Julius has something he wants to tell him that will change his view on the world forever. “It will be an unbelievable story, yet the truth like a cow,” was what Julius said to him the day before. Julius only knows he said that because George is going to tell him about it several times in the future. George does not know that now, of course. He also does not know he is going to meet his future wife at the fancy-dress party in three months. Julius does know. George has only known Julius for two months and knows that he had never seen him before that time. Julius knows they will know each other for most of their conscious lives in George’s future and Julius’s past. It is an odd situation.  

“At last, after all those years, yesterday has finally arrived,” Julius says when he wakes up. He knows where they are going to meet today, because George is going tell him tomorrow while having a nice steak tartar. If things were only less complicated. Looking into his hand mirror he wonders, as he has so often done before, “Are there any more people like me? I do hope not. This is highly inconvenient.” He puts the mirror away, gets dressed, picks up his stuff and makes his way to the park where George is already waiting for him with some freshly made sandwiches and a bottle of fizzy drink – as they are both on the wagon.  

The weather is nice, just as he said – or is going to say -, and the birds are having a good time tweeting and buildings nests. Julius smiles when he sees his future best friend sitting there on the bench exactly the way he is going to say tomorrow. Knowing full well what the outcome of the conversation is going to be – they will become the best of friends ever and share a house together – he is still a little bit nervous as he has no idea of what George’s first reaction was … is going to be. 

“It is good to see you, George, have you been waiting long?”  

“No, not that long. Would you like a sandwich?” 

“Yes, that would be great. And although I could surely use a stiff one, I will take what you have to offer instead.” 

George hands him the sandwich and a glass of diet something as Julius sits down next to him. He feels a little uncomfortable despite all the things George will tell him about this day. There is no changing the past and, as Julius knows, there is no changing the future either. It sounds a bit fatalistic. He also knows it is no use telling anybody as that would – as you may understand – still not alter the future.  

“I’d better get right to the point, George. This is a rather difficult issue to discuss, but I know the outcome and I am confident you will understand eventually. Maybe not at first, but it will be alright, you’ll see. Just be the open-minded person you have always been or will be.” 

“For someone who wants to get right to the point, you are taking an awfully long time getting there, Julius.” 

“Yeah, sorry, I am a bit nervous. The only reason I know we have known each other for two months now, is because you have told me. That is not because there is something wrong with my memory, George, it is just that I have not yet lived that part of my life yet whereas you have.” 

“You are not making much sense now, Julius. So far, you have always made perfect sense. Is it Thursday? This must be Thursday.” 

“It is Thursday, George, I’m sure you will get the hang of Thursdays eventually. I know as I am from the future.” 

“Are you telling me, Julius, that time travel is possible, and you have a time machine?” 

“Well, not exactly. And I have no idea how if what is happening to me is even possible. You see, you travel forwards in time. Which makes perfect sense as everybody is doing that exact same thing. That is, everybody except for me.” 

“You are not going forward in time?” 

“I only travel forward in time for twenty-four hours. When the clock strikes twelve, you will move on to the next day. I, on the other hand, will travel back in your time to the day before.” 

“This is highly illogical, Julius.” 

“I agree with you there and also highly inconvenient. For you see, I only knew we were going to meet up here, at this exact time and place, because you will tell me tomorrow during dinner. You are going to have the steak tartar, by the way, and you will tip the waitress because she has a wonderful smile. You knew were going to meet up here, because you told me yesterday.” 

“So … how do you know I told you this yesterday?” 

“I don’t.” 

“You don’t know that I told you this yesterday?” 

“Well, I do, but only because you are going to tell me in the future. I haven’t actually heard you say it as such as it is in my future and your past.” 

“I think you were right; we could use something stronger than this fizzy drink.” 

“This must sound like utter bollocks to you now, but come tomorrow, you will have come to terms with it. Just to get things straight, your tomorrow is my yesterday and vice versa.” 

“If what you are saying is true, then I can see that it must be highly inconvenient. Any idea what caused this?” 

“No, I haven’t. I have no idea what happened to my parents after I was born. They have not seen me since and I, as you will understand, have never seen them and never will. I mean, a nurse can hardly walk up to a woman in waiting and go,’ Excuse me, madam, this is your future son, would you like to hold him for a minute?’ can you? It would scare the bejesus out of a woman.” 

“How did you survive?” 

“I don’t know. All the people that raised me are in my past and their future. I reckon you must have had a hand in that. Although, I am afraid … .” 

George suddenly has a sad look in his eyes. Not because of what he has just been told, but because of what he has just remembered. 

“Julius, if what you are saying is true, I am afraid to say I think I know what your future is going to be like, and I know wish I had spent more time with you.” 

 “I gathered as much. If what you have told me is true and we have only known each other for two months, I know how much time I have left, and I do not blame you for not having spent more time with me for you did not know and I am not going to tell you in my future.” 

“Surely, there must be something we can do?” 

“I have tried, and you will try, but resistance is futile. I am glad for all the time we have spent together, and I am sure I will enjoy the two months I have left with you.” 

“You will. I did. Your story was in the papers, you know. I read it. Just not the whole I-am-from-the-future thing. I did not know it was you when I read it.” 

“Let’s not talk about that, George. Let’s just sit here for a while, and enjoy this beautiful day together.” 

They do or did.  

— the end —

This story was written using a the prompt ‘yesterday has finally arrived’ from aooga Olwg #339. Please, visit the site for great prompts.