I didn't know how much time had passed. Somebody came and shook me. I was limp and cold. People went by. Someone tried to pull me onto my feet. But to no avail. I could never be myself again. The antidote hadn't worked. Dylan was no more. I couldn't fathom who I was or where I was. It was as if I was expecting Dylan to come at any moment from around the curtain and beckon to me. I stared at his empty bed and remembered his smile. Tears ran down my cheeks. His dead body was already at the morgue .I was too late. I couldn't turn back the hand of time.

Or could I?

Suddenly something struck me. I dug out the small metallic box which had been forgotten awhile. I drew my fingers on its weird silvery case. I got up on my feet. Everything was falling into piece. Quantum mechanics... Time... Tachyon... Time warp... Everything was crystal clear to me. Time machine! Dylan had made a time machine and someone was after it. Someone who would even hurt him as badly. But how was it possible. Is it magic or is it science? Is he a lunatic or is he a genius? Is this a truth or a big farce. But I had to try.

Grabbing my coat with one hand, my hair fluttering wildly in the evening wind, I strode towards the woods at the edge of the town. The mellow afternoon sun added a majestic glow to the trees. My mind was in no position to admire the breathtaking beauty. I took out the little case and put my fingers on the red button at the centre. My heart beat fast. What if it was a trap?  What if it was a bomb? Why in the world would Dylan want to hurt me? But if it is so important why did he trust me with it. I met him just that day. What invisible bonding did develop and end within the short span? I had no answer but all I knew was that I was going to undo my doing. Dylan couldn't leave me when at such a time.

A red light filled the entire forest. When the blinding light cleared I found myself standing before a huge machine. It had a silvery streamlined body and lots of odd circuits and markings on it's surface. The misshapen beast was glowing with an eerie light. Enchanted I moved towards the thing. There was a grinding  noise. A doorway was revealed in the huge object. I peeped inside to find a console with weird looking buttons, radars and monitors and a myriad variety of shapes, sizes and colours. I was awed. Dithering for a moment I finally steeled my heart and entered the cabin. The door of escape shut behind me. Was I dreaming?  If yes it was the worst nightmare ever.
The console monitor had some small switches on it. There was date and time adjuster followed by a place. A pang of sorrow crossed my heart. Could I live with myself if he is not alive? If I could just reverse the time...
I adjusted the time to earlier that day. The place was set by default. I reached for the central blue start button with trembling hands. I closed my eyes and pressed it.

Suddenly there was a jerk and I was thrown on the floor. I hit my head and felt a bit dizzy. It was pitch dark in the space. A small window on top of the machine revealed a vast blackness threatening to engulf me.I could feel the pressure mounting. Was this machine tested? If not what will happen? Can any human cross the time barrier. The energy field was enough to destroy me. The pressure was unbearable after a moment. The time-ship was gaining momentum. I felt my eyes were trying to bulge out. I was gasping for breath. My lungs were bursting. I lay full length on the floor.  It was a mistake.  I shouldn't have come here. I was going to die. I was resigned to my fate. Death would free me from a life of guilt. I closed my eyes. Everything was dark.

When I opened my eyes I was lying on the grassy floor of the forest. I got up and looked around. It was morning the time machine was standing silently with it’s door wide open. Hastily I hailed for a taxi and reached the hospital. Rushing up to the ward I saw myself running out of the ward. The me of the past didn't even look at me.I felt unusually calm when I should have been panicking. I had my plan chalked out. I cautiously moved into the room just in time to find the shift nurse handing Dylan the penicillin. I snatched it out of his hand. I wanted to hug him then and there. But I controlled my desires. Then I turned and informed the baffled nurse about Dylan's allergy and made him take Cephalexim with my own hands. Relieved I strolled out of the ward leaving the bewildered nurse gaping at me.
The journey back was a horrific. Reaching my own time period I  breathlessly ran towards ward number 16. Rushing to his bed I drew back the curtains to find it empty. My heart skipped a beat. Frantically I  searched for him.

“Hi nurse Shreya,” Dylan was holding a crutch and gingerly balancing himself in one foot. He gave me a lopsided grin. A tear escaped from my eyes as I stood staring at a genius and a friend. Breaking all barriers and strictly flouting the code of ethics I ran up to him and wrapped him in a big ,warm embrace. The whole world dissolved around us. For a moment we were together again.

The clock struck twelve and Gave a melodious chime,
And another saga was engraved On the hands of time