A Chrononautics romance · 30 episodes with audio

Elara & Kael

She found a locked door in his soul. What she did next cost them both a past, a future, and very nearly the present. Originally serialized on LinkedIn, one episode at a time.

Start with Episode 1
  1. 01I Found a Locked Door in His Soul!The air inside Kael's mind was like sweet, quiet spring, all blooming gardens and sun-dappled library stacks. I had never been so deep inside someone's consciousness before, and just walking through h…▶
  2. 02The Cracks in the SecretKael's face went pale. In the real world, his body was probably shivering, but here in his Memory Palace, he looked like he was about to shatter.…▶
  3. 03The Face in the SmokeThe smoke wasn't just gas; it felt like heavy, wet wool wrapping around my lungs. Kael was screaming my name, his hands locked around my waist, trying to pull me back into the safety of the garden.…▶
  4. 04The Truth Behind the Lie"What does she mean?" I demanded, spinning to face Kael. The garden was dying around us, petals falling like black snow.…▶
  5. 05A War for What Will Be"How do we stop it?" I grabbed Kael's arm. "How do we stop her from becoming real?"…▶
  6. 06The Anchor HoldsThe world was tearing in half. One side was warm—gold and honey and the smell of Kael's cologne on Sunday mornings. The other side was cold—silver and silence and the sound of a heart that had forgott…▶
  7. 07The Eye That Watches"Kael." My voice was barely a whisper. "We're not alone."…▶
  8. 08Into the Labyrinth"You don't have to come with me." I stood at the edge of my own nightmare, looking into the swirling silver entrance to my Fear Labyrinth.…▶
  9. 09The Queen of DoubtThe center of my labyrinth was a throne room built from broken dreams.…▶
  10. 10The Word That SavesPeace.…▶
  11. 11What RemainsWhen the light faded, I was lying in Kael's arms on soft grass.…▶
  12. 12The Girl I Left BehindI ran toward the little girl, my heart breaking with every step.…▶
  13. 13Into the Worst Day"Take me there," I said, my voice stronger than I felt. "Take me to that day. I want to see it."…▶
  14. 14The Words He SaidI'd forgotten how loud it was.…▶
  15. 15Rewriting the Moment"I want to talk to him," I said suddenly. "I want to talk to my father."…▶
  16. 16The Fragment Comes HomeWhen we finally let go, something had changed.…▶
  17. 17Whole AgainI expected it to hurt. Seventeen years of buried pain, flooding back all at once? I braced myself for agony.…▶
  18. 18The Question in the GrassWe lay in the golden grass for what felt like hours.…▶
  19. 19Building the Bridge"We need to do this properly," Kael said the next day, standing at the edge of his Memory Palace.…▶
  20. 20The Voice from the GardenI froze mid-step. "Did you hear that?"…▶
  21. 21The Mother I Never Saw"Mom?" The word felt strange in my mouth. I hadn't called her that in years.…▶
  22. 22Seventeen Years of SilenceI stood on my mother's doorstep for fifteen minutes before I knocked.…▶
  23. 23Her Secret Navigation"What do you mean, nobody came back for you?" I set down my tea, heart pounding.…▶
  24. 24Teaching Mom to Fly"Show me," Mom said the next morning over breakfast. "Show me what you've learned. I want to see how far you've come."…▶
  25. 25The Bridge CompleteWhen we emerged into my Hope Architecture, Kael was waiting.…▶
  26. 26Finding Dad"I have to find my father." The words hung in the air like a challenge.…▶
  27. 27The Man Behind the DoorHe was smaller than I remembered.…▶
  28. 28Coming HomeThe drive home felt different.…▶
  29. 29One Month LaterA month has passed since that night. And everything is different.…▶
  30. 30Forever Begins NowSix months later.…▶
  31. ✦Series Finale ReflectionThey say time heals all wounds. But that's not quite right, is it?…▶