Missing Person Notice

Chance sat on the park bench for what felt like hours, lost in the labyrinth of his thoughts and memories. The sky had transitioned from the golden hues of sunset to the inky blackness of night, dotted with stars. With a deep sigh, he finally stood up, feeling a mix of resignation and resolution. He decided it was time to return home.

As he walked through the quiet, dimly lit streets towards his apartment complex, the familiar surroundings brought a strange sense of both comfort and alienation. Everything looked the same, yet he felt profoundly changed. The years he spent in the Ming Dynasty had left an indelible mark on him, and he couldn't shake the feeling of being a stranger in his own time.

Just as he reached his neighborhood, something caught his eye. Tacked onto a utility pole was a missing person flyer. Curiosity piqued, he moved closer to examine it. His heart skipped a beat as he saw his own face staring back at him from the poster. The words "MISSING: Chance" were printed in bold letters, along with a description and a date—January 2024.

Chance's eyes widened in shock. "2024?" he murmured to himself. "That's when I disappeared. So, despite the years I spent in the Ming Dynasty, only a short time has passed here. Does this mean time practically stood still while I was gone?"

He stood there, trying to make sense of the revelation. "If what I experienced in the Ming Dynasty equates to just a few days here, then the theory of time dilation or parallel time streams must be real," he thought, his mind racing. "Could it be that one year in that world is equivalent to just one day here?"

The implications of this realization hit him like a tidal wave. The concept of time being almost static in his original timeline while he lived for years in the past meant that, theoretically, the time machine could indeed grant a form of immortality. Living lifetimes in different eras, only to return to the present moment unchanged, was a concept that defied conventional understanding of time and existence.

"Could the time machine really be a gateway to eternal life?" Chance whispered to himself, a mix of awe and disbelief in his voice. "If time hardly moves here while I'm away, then traveling through time could allow me to live indefinitely."

His mind flashed back to the Emperor's obsession with immortality and how he had desperately clung to the idea of the time machine as a means to achieve it. The Emperor had been right in his pursuit, but for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't about prolonging life in a single time stream; it was about the ability to traverse multiple lifetimes across different eras.

Chance's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps. He turned to see a neighbor walking their dog, completely oblivious to the extraordinary revelations taking place in his mind. The mundane reality of his surroundings grounded him momentarily.

Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, Chance continued his walk home, pondering the significance of his discoveries. As he approached his apartment building, he realized that he had a responsibility—both to himself and to the knowledge he possessed. He needed to ensure that the time machine remained safe, and that its power was used wisely, if at all.

Entering his apartment, Chance felt a strange sense of familiarity and distance. The walls were lined with books and memorabilia from his past, things that once defined his life before his extraordinary journey. He sat down at his desk and pulled out a notebook, beginning to jot down his thoughts and theories about time, the time machine, and the nature of his experiences.

His mind drifted back to the faces of those he had loved and lost in the past—Keiko, YoYo, Rossy. Their memories were vivid, and their influence on his life was undeniable. They had shaped him into the person he was now, and their stories were intertwined with his own in ways that transcended time.

Chance picked up his phone, which had been dead for an unknown period. He walked to his bedroom and grabbed a charging cable, plugging it into the phone. As the device came to life, a flood of notifications popped up on the screen. He scrolled through them, but one thing was clear—he needed to call his parents.

His heart pounded as he dialed the number. After a few rings, his mother answered. Her voice was filled with a mix of relief, confusion, and disbelief.

"Chance? Is that really you? Where have you been? It's been two months! We were so worried!"

Chance's throat tightened, and he struggled to find the words to explain. "Mom… I'm so sorry. I can't explain everything right now, but I'm okay. I'm really, really sorry for making you worry."

His mother's voice wavered with emotion. "We thought something terrible had happened to you. The police were looking, everyone was searching. Where did you go?"

Chance took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Mom, it's complicated. I was… I was somewhere far away, and I couldn't contact anyone. But I'm back now."

His mother's confusion turned into a mix of relief and anger. "Far away? What do you mean? You just disappeared without a trace. Do you have any idea how scared we were?"

"I know, Mom. I know. I can't tell you everything right now, but please believe me. I never meant to hurt you or Dad. I'm so sorry," Chance repeated, his voice filled with genuine remorse.

There was a long pause on the other end of the line. When his mother spoke again, her tone was softer, though still filled with concern. "Chance, just come home. We can talk about everything when you get here. Your father and I just want to see you."

Chance nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "I will, Mom. I'll come home as soon as I can."

After hanging up, Chance sat on the edge of his bed, the weight of his recent experiences bearing down on him. The truth of where he had been and what he had done was something he couldn't easily share. How could he explain the journey through time, the battles he fought, and the lives he had touched and lost?