I couldn’t believe it. I was randomly chosen to spend a day beta testing a light bending skin that would make me invisible. Wow! After my ticket was drawn, I had to pass background and psychological checks and swear I would do nothing to break the law or alter the course of history. My plan had to be okayed by a team of ethicists and psychiatrists.
I held my breath while they decided if I could spend the day with an old love, the one who got away. After all, I told them, what better way to spend a fantasy day than with the man who had become more fantasy than reality. The doctors prepared me to give up the fantasy and let go again. Finally, everyone was confident I was happy in my current reality and eager to return to it after my big day.
I’m not sure I would have recognized him if we had passed on the street. It had been 25 years and while he showed signs of aging, he seemed to be in good shape physically. His house looked well-kept and cozy, he had a set of golf clubs and a workshop in the basement. There was a toy box in the corner of the living room – he must be thrilled to have grandchildren. The only thing missing was a boat, but that could be at a marina
Enough about his house, what about his day-to-day? I couldn’t help but smile when I saw him reading the paper with his breakfast. Good, I thought. He hasn’t gone all digital. After breakfast, he golfed with the guys, worked on a small rocker in his workshop and puttered around in the garden. Not much interaction with his wife but what there was seemed comfortable. I couldn’t help but notice they didn’t touch much and were serious and matter of fact with each other. I took some comfort from them having gotten beyond the anger and come to terms with each other. But I was unhappy they seemed to be living separate lives. And then his stepdaughter came over. Both he and his wife lit up. There was warmth and companionship that could only be built by years of living together. He was his old playful and joyful self with her and her daughter. His wife joined in completing the circle. Yes, I said to myself, they were right to reunite so many years ago. The love between him and his family was beautiful to behold. I could see the glue that bound them together. While theirs may not have been the most romantic relationship ever, it had survived saving for a comfortable retirement and raising a daughter together. They truly did love each other.
On my way back to the lab, I was elated knowing both our lives had turned out better than if we had stayed together. In a playful mood myself, I picked up a dozen helium balloons, walked over to the local park and released them. At long last, I was able to let any residual what-ifs drift away with the balloons.
