“It’s weird because my watch has been broken before, only this time I can’t get the hands to move,” the man said.

His eyes showed his concern for the watch.

“How old do you think this watch is?” I asked, grabbing my magnifying glass and turning on my small lamp.

“Roughly 70 years old. It was my grandfather’s.”

A small pit of remorse hit me.

I had worked a lot with family heirlooms, some I couldn’t fix. It killed me to give the family hope and then crush it when I couldn’t fix something.

I wouldn’t fail today.

I peered closer at the small gold watch. It’s age was apparent; small scratches nicked the band and the glass was smudged.

The two hands did not move; only the seconds hand clicked away.

“I’ll look at it today and tomorrow I’ll reach out with what I find,” I concluded. “What’s your name?”

The man, with graying hair and tired eyes, sighed with relief. “Albert Stallion.”

He gave me his number and walked out of my shop, ringing the overhead bell, with a bit of skip in his step.

Again I returned to the watch, taking it apart to look at the mechanics.

I moved my rusty red hair from my face.

“Hm, that’s strange,” I muttered to myself.

There were no wheels or batteries inside the watch—there was nothing but a small crystal the color of fresh snow.

It was only a speck in size, slightly larger than a grain of salt.

I grabbed my tweezers and reached within, touching the enigmatic crystal.

Then time disappeared and so did I.

In a blink, Albert appeared before me, with his watch in his hand.

“It’s weird because my watch has been broken before, only this time I can’t get the hands to move,” Albert said…again.

I quickly masked my confusion.

“I-I uh, let me take a look,” I managed to say.

I grabbed his watch that only seconds ago was taken apart. The two hands did not move.

Had I just gone back in time?

“Albert, let me tell you this—“

“How do you know my name?” He said, oddly coldly.

I froze, until I saw a name tag peeking from his overcoat.

“Your name tag.” I pointed to it, relief coursing through me.

“Oh, ha, silly me,” he replied.

I told him I’d fix it today and reach out tomorrow. Again he gave me a his number and walked out, ringing the bell.

Quickly, I took apart the watch and found the very same white crystal within.

If I touched it again, would I travel back in time?

Timidly, I touched the crystal and thought of the time Mother gave me her crystal ring.

I blinked.

“Avery, dear, I wish to gift you something,” Morher said.

My heart dropped.

I looked around. I was in my old house. Mother was before me with her rusty red hair and sweet smile.

I could see the crow’s feet around her eyes and smell her gentle scent of vanilla.

“Mother…” I cried out.

Tears were running down my cheeks as I hugged her.

I hadn’t seen her since her funeral.

“Oh, Avery, dear, what’s with all the emotion?” She asked.

“I’m just so grateful you’re here.”

She smiled and kissed my forehead. “Now, the thing I wanted to give you.”

She pulled out her crystal ring and put it on my right ring finger.

“This ring has been passed down for generations. Now it’s yours,” Mother said.

I blinked at its beauty.

Then silence hit.

I wasn’t with Mother anymore; I was back in my shop, yet I was still wearing the crystal ring.

“It’s weird because my watch has been broken before, only this time I can’t get the hands to move,” Albert said, spooking me.

He laid the watch before me, just as he did two times before.

“May I ask where you got this watch from?” I said, grabbing the watch and pretending to look at it for the first time.

Albert froze before me. “It, uh,” he cleared his throat. “It was my brother’s.”

I hid my confusion.

He said it was his grandfather’s before.

“I’ll take a look at it,” I said.

But before Albert turned to leave, he grasped my hand with a painful grip.

“Don’t break it,” he threatened.

“I won’t.”

Once the bell rang signaling his departure, I rushed to the watch.

As soon as my eyes caught sight of the crystal, the bell rang…again.

I heard footsteps creaking closer until Albert came into view.

His face was stone cold, cruel looking. His hair seemed grayer.

“I knew I couldn’t trust you, girl,” he spat.

My mouth refused to speak.

He stepped closer. “You’re the fifth person I’ve seen to fix my watch, and you’re just like the rest. I know you’ve time traveled.”

“I didn’t know,” I stuttered.

Albert laughs, shaking my core. “My soul is tied to that crystal. Everytime someone uses it, I age faster. But enough is enough.”

He gripped my wrist, and caught sight of my mother’s ring.

“Interesting ring, it’s so similar to that of my watch,” he said.

I pulled my hand away and hit the watch from the table.

The crystal, so minuscule and fragile, cascaded into sparkles.

“No, no no no!” Albert shouted.

Staring in horror, I saw Albert aging faster and faster. His hair turned thin and pure white. Wrinkles creased his skin.

He gave a finally shout before he turned to nothing but dust.

The sound of the ring of the bell pulled me from my frozen horror.

A young man strolled through, his brown hair was neatly gelled back.

His cheeks turned rosy when his eyes connected with mine.

From his pocket, he drew out a familiar object.

He threw a watch onto the table.

“It’s weird because my watch has been broken before, only this time I can’t get the hands to move,” he said.

Oh great.