Chapter 1: Faded Memories
Ezra stood alone in his empty apartment, staring at the worn-out photograph in his hand. His boyfriend, Gabriel, smiled brightly in the picture, eyes full of life, love, and the promise of a future that no longer existed. Ezra had lost him two years ago in a car accident. His life had since crumbled into a blur of grief, but with that grief came something else—something almost impossible to understand.
Ezra could travel through time. Not in the sense of flying spaceships into the future or going back to change history, but rather, he had a rare ability to step into his memories. He could revisit every moment he had spent with Gabriel, reliving their love, their laughter, and their tender moments. But no matter how hard he tried, the past remained locked. He couldn’t change a thing.
The first time it happened was just weeks after Gabriel’s death. Ezra had been lying in bed, clutching Gabriel’s sweater, soaked with tears, when suddenly he was no longer in his apartment. He found himself sitting at their favorite café, across from Gabriel, just like the countless times they had before. The moment had felt so real—the clink of glasses, the smell of fresh pastries, and the warmth of Gabriel’s hand covering his across the table.
Yet, as soon as Ezra had tried to speak or alter anything from how it originally happened, the scene dissolved, and he was thrown back into the present.
Chapter 2: A Promise Left Unfulfilled
Ezra became addicted to these memories. Any time he wanted to escape the unbearable present, he would close his eyes and let his mind drift. He could go back to their first date at the amusement park, feel the way Gabriel’s lips touched his cheek in the quiet moonlight, hear the sound of Gabriel’s soft laughter echo through the night.
But no matter how many times he returned, nothing changed. Every kiss, every embrace, every word played out exactly the same. The hope that he could stop the accident from happening began to consume him. Each memory felt like a bittersweet reminder of what could never be undone.
One night, in the dim glow of his bedroom, Ezra decided to try something new. He focused on the last day he had seen Gabriel alive. It was a chilly autumn morning, the day of the accident. They had argued—something trivial about Ezra being late for dinner plans. Gabriel had stormed off, and Ezra had stayed behind, angry and hurt. Later that night, he received the call.
Ezra transported himself back to that morning, watching as Gabriel put on his jacket, preparing to leave. This time, Ezra was determined. He ran forward, trying to hold Gabriel’s arm, to stop him from going out that door.
But his hand passed through Gabriel’s body like a ghost.
“No!” Ezra screamed, feeling the cold reality of his powerless state. “Please, don’t leave! I’m sorry… I love you…”
Gabriel didn’t hear him. The memory moved on, unchanged, as it always had.
Chapter 3: The Last Goodbye
Weeks passed, and Ezra’s body grew weak from the strain of constantly jumping between the past and the present. He no longer wanted to live in a world without Gabriel, but at the same time, he couldn’t let go of the hope that somehow, he could bring him back.
One final night, exhausted and desperate, Ezra slipped into the memory of the night before Gabriel’s death. They had been lying together in bed, Gabriel’s arms wrapped around Ezra’s waist, whispering sweet nothings into his ear. Ezra could feel the weight of his boyfriend’s love, the warmth of his embrace—everything so painfully real, yet still just a shadow of the past.
This time, though, Ezra didn’t try to change anything. He didn’t fight the flow of the memory. Instead, he simply let himself be present, feeling Gabriel’s heartbeat against his back, listening to the soft hum of his breath.
“I wish I could stay here forever,” Ezra whispered.
“You already are,” Gabriel’s voice responded softly, though it wasn’t part of the memory.
Ezra’s heart skipped a beat. It was impossible. Was he hearing Gabriel for real? He turned his head, and for a fleeting moment, Gabriel’s eyes locked with his. It wasn’t the memory—this was different. It was as though Gabriel had crossed the boundary between time and space, just for a second, just to say goodbye.
“I love you, Ezra,” Gabriel said, his voice filled with the same warmth it always had. “But you have to let me go.”
Tears streamed down Ezra’s face. He knew this was the last time he would ever feel this close to Gabriel. His power was fading, and with it, the ability to visit these memories. The strain had become too much, and soon, he would no longer be able to return.
“I love you, too,” Ezra whispered, his voice breaking. “I’ll never forget you.”
As Gabriel’s form began to fade, Ezra felt a strange sense of peace wash over him. The pain of losing Gabriel would never fully disappear, but this moment—this final, tender exchange—was enough. It was a promise that Gabriel’s love would always live on in his heart, even if he could never return to the past.
Epilogue: Moving Forward
Ezra never traveled to the past again. The ability, like a candle burnt out, was gone. But for the first time in years, he felt ready to face the future. Gabriel was gone, but their love had transcended time, and in that, Ezra found solace.
Every time he looked at that old photograph, he smiled. Not because he could relive those moments, but because he had learned to carry them with him. And in his heart, Gabriel would always be there—an echo of love that time could never truly erase.
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