A Journey in Time                          

Part 4

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The highway remained deserted as the sun slowly arced its way across the afternoon sky.

    An occasional squirrel or chipmunk appeared, darted about and was gone. 
    High above, a lone hawk circled.
    The backpack, unmoved, stood like a sentinel at the side of the road, its shadow growing easterly on the surrounding gravel.
    The stranger, meanwhile, and the young hitchhiker, were sitting on the large, flat rock. The stranger was speaking.

 

    “Let me ask you something—hypothetically,” the stranger was saying.
    “Suppose,” he continued, “that, years from now—after you get married, raise a family, have a career—you could return here, to this time and place, and meet the person you are now. Suppose the two of you could sit and talk and spend time together. Just suppose. What do you think that would be like?"

 

    The young hitchhiker considered the curious question. As he thought about it, he wasn't sure what to say.
    “Well,” he began, searching for words, “I suppose if that were to happen, if I were to meet my future self ...” His voice trailed off. 

 

    The young hitchhiker knew that such a thing was impossible and would never happen. 
    Still, something in the stranger's manner, something in how he asked the question, caused him to speculate.
    “I suppose,” he replied, “in a situation like that, I would want to ask questions.”

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          Conclusion.

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