Regrets

Professor Mia kept her juice near the computer before going to get herself water.

Professor Hemsworth didn't notice that and ended up spilling it all over the system.

Right after sending Alora to the 18th century, the whole system crashed.

The whole room got filled up with black smoke.

Professors and Sarah started coughing. Tears were coming out of their eyes.

With great difficulty, they left the room.

Their whole appearance has turned black with smoke.

Thankfully, no one was seriously injured, other than getting a few scratches here and there.

"What are we going to do now? Alora has probably reached the 18th century now. The laboratory has also exploded. It's going to take at least a few months to fix things again and make another time machine. We have lost everything," Professor Cara cried out.

The proper and strict Professor Cara who seldom shows any emotions was crying.

Sarah felt her breathing stop after understanding the gravity of the situation.

Her heart started aching for her bestie cum sister.

But her heart suddenly screamed out saying that her sister is safe. Nothing has happened to her.

She looked at the professors who looked like they have grown old in this small period.

She put on a strong face and pushed her tears back.

"No Sarah, you can't cry. It's not the time for you to act weak. If you fall apart now then who's going to handle your parents and Maya's parents? Who's going to make Mrs. Snow understand that Alora will be back," she suppressed the sob that was about to leave her mouth.

"Maya is also pregnant. She won't be able to deal with this alone. Already she's going through such a big heartbreak. Stay strong. This too shall pass, my love," She encouraged herself.

"Professor Cara, you gave Alora a walkie-talkie, right? You said that we would be able to trace down her location through this. Can't you find out her location now?" A new seed of hope was growing in her heart.

"I legit said that but now that the whole system is ruined, we can't trace down her location anymore," Professor Cara said looking lost.

This was like a punch to Sarah's guts.

"What did she mean by we can't trace down her location? Have we lost her for the whole life?" Tears started streaming down Sarah's eyes but she didn't bother wiping them.

Moments shared with Alora started coming to her mind one after another.

Places they have been together, things they did together.

How Alora always acted like an elder sister despite being the younger one.

How she was so responsible yet so childish.

How their parents used to call her a perfect firecracker because of her nature.

How she was so overprotective of the people she held so close to her heart. There wasn't much, only their parents, Sarah, Maya, and Mrs. Snow.

How she won't bother saying anything to the person who tries to insult her but got into a bloody fight upon hearing a single bad thing about Maya or Sarah.

She is the perfect warrior.

Alora's little habits flashed by her eyes.

How she had no problem sharing her glasses or plates with someone but still, couldn't get herself to drink the same water she put in a glass five minutes ago.

How she loved Cats a lot yet upon them being a little closer to her, she would start shouting in fear. They fear them scratching her skin with their sharp nails.

How she would wave every time she sees a CCTV camera, no matter where and when.

Sarah fell to her knees with a scream and started crying loudly, like someone died which was pretty much the same. The only difference is that person was lost in the time.

The professors couldn't help themselves but ended up crying.

They didn't mind that their long hard work didn't pay off. Had the whole system blown up before, they won't bother much.

A little bit sad? Sure but that would have been better than this regret, shame, and heartbreak.

They were regretting allowing Alora to go there.

More than anyone else, Professor Hemsworth was beating himself again and again in his mind.

He has already killed himself thousands of times in his imagination.

Professor Mia was hating herself for bringing food there.

"Please fix everything, God. Don't let Alora get hurt. I will stop eating fast food or juices. I will never touch them again till my death. Just give Alora back to us. Let her be with us again," Professor Mia cried out in her mind.

At this rate, she was ready to lose everything just to get back to the past.

Regret was eating her alive. Shame was crawling in her body like thousands of ants.

Professor Cara was cursing herself for agreeing to let Alora time travel. She wished it was her in Alora's place. This way that sweet girl could be saved.

Professor Wills was beating himself for not stopping Alora from going there.

Professor James was beating himself for not being careful enough.

Sarah was berating herself for not going with Alora.

Had she been with Alora then they could have found a way out. At least in this way, Alora won't be alone.

Regret was eating them like darkness consumes the light.

They were blaming themselves for everything but they didn't realize that everything happens for a reason.

"I am so sorry. I know that my apology isn't going to fix sh*t but I am sorry," Professor Hemsworth said with a heartbroken look.

Everyone looked at one another and noticed that everyone was drowning in the river of regret. Everyone present there was beating themselves.

Alora's words came to Sarah's mind.

"Don't regret something which has already passed. Don't be harsh on yourself for something you have no control over. Find ways to make it better. Self-criticism is only going to slow down you," Sarah said Alora's said words.

Everyone looked at her.

"What happened is no one's fault. Don't beat yourselves over it. Let's try to fix things. Maybe it will take months after months or maybe many years but we will find her one day. Nothing is impossible," Sarah said with determination in her eyes.

Everyone nodded with the same determination.

"Are you guys there? Is anyone listening to me?" Alora's voice rang out from somewhere, shocking everyone.