Out of Time

© Oonah V Joslin

I found a secret. It's all true. There is a light but it's far, far away and between you and the light as you travel there are little tunnels. They look like holes really but a faint glow emanates from each one and they vibrate around the edge at different rhythms. Sometimes you can hear things too, music, crying, laughter, a battle. My advice is to avoid the battle ones unless you're being chased.

Oh, they don't want you to go down those tunnels, the Chasers – they're trying to direct you to the light; that way they can borrow time – time that should belong to you, if you can get down the tunnels. But they're pretty intimidating alright. They'll stand right in front of a hole and block the way and they look fierce and just as solid as you – which neither of you is… Of course, once you're brave enough to ignore them and pass straight through them, they can't really do anything; being insubstantial themselves.

But I've seen one or two poor souls hesitate, and then angels can just sweep you along towards the light and you don't get to go back - ever.

What's so bad about that? you're saying.

Well, I know it's supposed to be Heaven and all that but I don't think I'd fit in well, you know. I was a soothsayer in one life, an astrologer in another, a candle maker, a clock maker, an astrophysicist…but in all my existences - in every tunnel, in some way I've explored time and I like it.

I can't think of anything worse than being out of time.