Jessica then and now Chapter 5

 Jessica then and now

Chapter 5
2030's

In that moment, as I felt her response to my touch and her curiosity matching mine, I knew she was the perfect partner for my time-travelling experience. Leaning over, I kissed this lovely woman on the cheek, expecting a reciprocated peck. To my surprise, she turned her head slightly and met my lips with hers, a tender and unexpected kiss followed by her tongue meeting mine with eagerness.

My hand was resting momentarily on her cast, loving the feel of the surface under my fingers, "But it's not just about physical travel. Imagine If I was able to go back 1 week and warn you about the stairs, about breaking your ankle. Imagine the possibilities."

Her insights from her readings and questions added a new dimension to my research, sparking ideas and avenues of exploration that I hadn't considered before. We shared a curiosity and passion for exploring the unknown. The touch of her cast lingered in my mind, but something felt off. It was like a subtle reminder that the realities can sometimes be filled with mysteries and potential lies.

I felt a mix of excitement and doubt. A nagging feeling that her explanation for her cast might be false, lingered in the back of my mind.

"I need to go back. I have a meeting this afternoon, could you give me a hand to stand up please?" Jessica asked, a hint of vulnerability in her voice even if I knew she didn't need my help at all. I nodded, understanding her need to keep the cast off the floor. Gently, I helped her to her foot.

Handing her the crutches, I watched as she skilfully balanced herself, swinging her cast through the crutches she moved naturally. With each step, she navigated the room to the rhythmic sound of her crutches echoing softly against the floor. It was a beautiful sight and yet I felt like I was missing something.

As days passed after our initial meeting, I couldn't shake off the doubts that had crept into my mind. Jessica's explanation for her leg cast felt too perfect, almost scripted, and it left me wondering about the authenticity of our connection and the true nature of her involvement in my research. One evening, as I was lost in thought at my desk, my phone buzzed with a message from Jessica.

"Liam, can we meet? I'd like to discuss something important," her message read.

Feeling a mix of curiosity and apprehension, I replied, "Of course, Jessica. When and where?"

She responded promptly, "How about tomorrow at my place? I'll explain everything about my cast and ankle then." I agreed to the meeting, intrigued by the prospect of getting answers to the lingering doubts that had been plaguing me. The next day, I found myself standing outside Jessica's beautiful house, the anticipation building with each passing second.

"Come in, Liam," As Jessica welcomed me into her apartment, her warm smile masked the tension I sensed in her eyes. She was wearing jeans that had been expertly cut at the knee to accommodate her leg cast. They hugged her curves in all the right places, adding style to her look with a white blouse and a Nike jogging shoe on her left foot.

As I sat across from Jessica in her cozy living room, the truth behind her cast awaited explanation. "So, Liam, I must admit, my love for being on crutches and wearing this recreational cast is not due to a broken ankle, as I led you to believe."

I knew it, I leaned forward slightly, inviting her to continue.

"It's so hard to explain, back in the 90s as a young actress, I began a fascination with leg casts and crutches, from a character I played on stage for months who had broken her ankle playing tennis. Over time, it evolved into a personal sexual fetish."

Wow listening intently, I realized that her connection to her crutches and cast ran deeper than I expected. It was a deliberate choice and I understood why she kept it hidden over the years and when we first met. She smiled while rubbing her cast. Her words resonated with me, sparking a new understanding of her perspective. Jessica's openness about her love for crutches and casts painted a picture of a woman who embraced life on her own terms like it or not.

"As much as I enjoy the theatrics of it all, I understand that it might have caused confusion about my real intentions regarding my involvement in your time-travel research."

I nodded, acknowledging the complexity of our situation. "It's a unique aspect of who you are, and it doesn't change my interest in collaborating with you on our exploration of time travel but from now we must be totally honest with each other."

Jessica's smile widened, a mixture of relief and gratitude evident in her eyes. "I'm glad to hear that, and I appreciate your understanding."

Our conversation shifted to the intricacies of time travel, into the possibilities and challenges of temporal exploration, I couldn't help but feel a renewed sense of excitement in our collaboration. The truth behind Jessica's cast had brought us closer, bridging any lingering doubts or misunderstandings.

One thing remained, I couldn't help but wonder about her motivations for wanting to revisit moments before her fall from the horse and the missed audition for the Titanic role. Her openness about her love for crutches and casts had set the stage for a candid conversation, and I was eager to understand her perspective further.

"Can you explain why you're interested in going back in time before your accident and the missed audition?"

She took a moment to gather her thoughts, her gaze distant yet focused as if reliving moments from the past. "It's not about changing the events themselves, It's about reclaiming the possibilities that were lost, the what-ifs and maybes that haunt me to this day."

Jessica went on to describe the impact of her accident on her career trajectory and personal life. "That collision while on the horse, as devastating as it was, marked a turning point. It altered the course of my career and left me with a lingering sense of 'what could have been."

"It was a pivotal opportunity, one that could have catapulted my career to new heights. But fate had other plans, and I've carried that missed chance with me ever since."

Listening to her heartfelt explanation, I gained a newfound appreciation for the weight of her experiences and the dreams left unfulfilled. Her desire to revisit those moments wasn't about erasing the past but rather about embracing the possibilities of a different outcome, one that might redefine her life in ways she had yet to imagine and that was both thrilling and so dangerous.

"I understand, we can explore those possibilities and perhaps find a path that leads to a different outcome." Jessica's eyes sparkled with renewed hope, a glimmer of excitement dancing in their depths. "Thank you, for understanding."

"It's very important to realise that the prospect of changing that moment in time on your horse is exciting, we must also consider the dangers of not fully controlling the new outcome." Her expression changed, signalling her understanding of the gravity of what we will try to do.

"If we somehow prevent the collision that shattered your leg, there's no guarantee that the new timeline will unfold as you hope. It's a risk we must acknowledge."

Jessica nodded, her gaze thoughtful. "I know that changing that one moment could have far-reaching consequences," she acknowledged. "It's not just about my career trajectory but also about the ripple effects on my personal life, relationships, and experiences."

I leaned in, took her recreational cast in my hand, my tone serious yet tinged with obvious attraction. "We may be able to alter that specific event, but the complexities of time travel are such that the outcomes to you and everybody present that day. We could inadvertently create new physical challenges."

Jessica's eyes met mine, "I'm willing to take that risk if you are," I nodded, acknowledging her bravery.

"Time travel involves a deep connection to a specific moment in the past. It's not just about going back in time; it's about immersing oneself in that era, feeling the emotions, and reliving the experiences."

I paused, allowing my words to sink in before continuing. "For me to successfully navigate time, I will need 2 conditions, a special memento from that time period, something that holds significant emotional resonance, and you will need to be in the state you were after that event" I explained.

"The first step is straightforward and easy, you will need to locate a very specific photo taken right after your accident. It should capture the raw emotions you were feeling, the essence of who you were in that moment, when you first saw your long leg cast. Maybe a photo during your hospital stay with your long cast elevated."

Jessica's eyes sparked with understanding. "And once we secure this pivotal memento come the very difficult part, you'll need to relive that challenging year from your accident until I can successfully time travel back and alter your past. You, Jessica, will become the focal point, you will be the bridge between our current reality and the past we aim to revisit and the only way we can force that is by breaking your sexy long leg once again in the present."

Her expression shifted while my words echoed in her head.... by breaking your sexy long leg once again in the present.

"I'm willing to do whatever it takes." She said while we both looked at her leg and short cast.

Chapter 6 to come
K