The Locket

by Susan Doria Word Count 841

She first saw the heart shaped locket at an antique store in town. It was on a delicate gold chain. When she opened the locket, two familiar faces stared back at her. Quickly snapping shut the locket, she raced to find the owner of the store. Finding him in the back storage area, she demanded, “Where did you get this lock?“ Hmm. Let me think. Oh, yes! It was sold to me by a group of time travelers.”

“Time travelers? I don’t understand.”

“Well, you see, dearie, they came to me from a time when Earth was desolate. They said they had been traveling from a time when the environment on Earth became uninhabitable. Temperatures were unbearably high all the time and in every location. Earth became scorched and people everywhere were dying from the excessive heat.”

“Do the time travelers still live among us?”

“I don’t know. They were searching for a new home and seemed to like it here.”

“So, where did the locket come from, then?”

“It must have been found during their travels.”

“Where might I find these time travelers?”

“You might check at the solar lab near the university. I seem to remember they wanted to research alternative forms of energy.”

“Thank you! I would like to buy the locket.”

“Yes, deary. In our new currency, that’s two hundred mullons.”

Making her way to the university, the girl began thinking about the faces in the locket. Faces she had not seen for over one hundred years. She, herself, was one hundred and twenty years old. Still young on this planet.

Finding the solar lab was easy. It stood out like a beacon of the college campus. Students came from all over the universe to study under the learned professor of solar energy. The man was renowned for his work on alternative forms of energy.

Seeing the professor in the solar lab, the girl entered quietly. As she approached the professor, she looked about at the shimmering surfaces all around her. These were made to reflect and absorb the sunlight, then transfer energy through various portals in the lab. The older man finally noticed her and said, “May I help you?”

“Oh, yes, please. I am looking for the time travelers and thought they might be here.”

“Well, yes, I mean, they were here earlier, but they are gone, now.”

“Oh, my. I was afraid of that.”

“Is there something I may assist you with?”

“It is something of a mystery. I have found a heart shaped locket that contains pictures of two people that I have not seen for a hundred years. I was hoping to learn about them from the time travelers.

“I see. Perhaps we can look for them together.”

“Yes, that would be great! Thank you.”

“Let’s start at the library. I do remember them talking about going there to do research.”

The pair made their way to the campus library. They passed many students reading and working. Finally, on the 2nd floor, at a small table, sat four people wearing strange clothing. The suits were silver and covered their bodies from head to toe, except for their faces. Their faces were shielded by clear masks. The girl courageously approached the group and asked if they were, in fact, time travelers. Getting an affirmative response, she was elated. Showing them the heart shaped necklace, she asked, “Where exactly did you find this?” The time travelers looked at one another and then back at the girl in shock. “It was given to us by your parents to take with us on our travels.

They were preparing to send you away with another group of travelers before the Earth exploded. We were to follow, and to help you, but we were caught in a time warp and were unable to reach you. We had given up on finding you over these past hundred years.” The girl looked at them in amazement! Now, she understood why the faces in the silver locket looked familiar. They were her parents! For God’s sake, she could barely remember them. The last thing she remembered, as a small child, was being wrapped in cool blankets and put in a machine that sent her into space. She had landed on this planet where she had lived for 118 years. The atmosphere was so much better than Earth’s. People lived much longer here. The time travelers’ leader spoke, “We, too, have been searching for the place you were sent. Now, we have finally found that place, and you!”

“Are there any other survivors of Earth?” the girl asked.

“There are a few groups like us who are wandering through time, hoping to find a hospitable planet to live on. You were one of the lucky ones. Even though your parents chose to stay and fight the rising temperatures through research and experiments, they did the right thing in sending you away.”

“I have missed them greatly. I am thankful for finding the heart shaped locket with their pictures. I will wear it, always, to remember their love and great sacrifice.”