Vienna, Austria, 1799

March 5th, 1:09 AM

With Rebecca's help, I was able to steal to my room as my mother slept just across the hall. My worry grew by the second. How strange it was to see my darling so sad out of the blue! I had already taken the letter he had given me from the pocket of my cloak, the smooth paper dancing between my fingers.

"I'll bring you some tea, Daphne," offered Rebecca.

I nodded without looking up from the folded paper. Somehow, I wasn't eager to take my eyes from the messily written copy of my name on the center of the page. My stomach was in knots, and I hadn't even read the greeting.

At last, I closed my eyes and unfolded the letter, urging myself to read every word patiently rather than taking my normal impulsive glance at the end.

Dearest, Daphne

It's with a heavy heart and tear-filled eyes that I write this. Tonight, March 4th, I turned on the machine to find a message saying that there were only enough resources for one round trip. I tried to find anything that would fix the problem, but my luck had run out. I didn't tell you earlier because I wanted to see you happy tonight, so that every time I think of you, I can think of your smile. Please understand that I'm so in love with you and I won't ever stop finding a solution to this problem. I won't stop until the day I die. You've brought me the best memories, and if I could go back in time again, I wouldn't change anything. . . not even to save us from the heartbreak. When I built this time machine, I thought the reward would be a doctorate in physics and for my name to go down in textbooks, but the real reward was being loved by you. Sometimes I lie in bed, unable to believe that such a gorgeous soul as yours was able to see through my clumsiness and awkwardness. Never doubt that you are the kindest, gentlest, most gorgeous woman I've known in my life. I will see you again. Wait for me.

-your darling, Stephen

Just as I had taken my eyes from the page, Rebecca, entered with a tray of tea. I looked at her with tears falling from my cheeks, and not a word was said as she hurriedly set down the tray on my nightstand and wrapped me in an embrace. It took all of the strength within me not to scream my sorrows into the night. All I could do was grip the fabric of Rebecca's dress and let my tears soak it.

"He's gone," I managed with a hoarse voice, the words muffled through my friend's clothes.

"What happened? Would you like to talk about it?" she asked.

I nodded and sat up straight in an attempt to regain my elegance. It may have worked on my appearance, but I feared that the ache in my soul would never turn back to happiness.

"Something. . .," I struggled to make my voice clear, "something happened to the device that allowed him to travel through time. He said he would work to fix it, and he said to wait for him. . . but I know I can't. I have to marry Herr Leitner."

My voice broke as I said my fiancé's name, and I began to cry again at the thought of my inevitable fate. My heart was plunged into depths of despair as I imagined walking down the aisle to Herr Leitner instead of my darling.

Rebecca held my hands and sighed of pity for me.

"I'm very sorry, Daphne. You know that if I could risk telling your mother to call off the wedding, I would. Unfortunately, this is my job and I cannot afford to lose it. I can only offer my friendship to comfort you in this lamentable situation."

"Perhaps you cannot stop the wedding. . ."

I sniffled and let my fingers wander along the skirt of my dress.

"But I most certainly shall," I whispered.

Rebecca looked up at me with concern.

"Daphne, surely it's not your intention to confront your mother. I know you love Stephen, but think of the catastrophe it would be. She would be absolutely furious!"

"I don't care. I've been silent for too long, and look where it's gotten me. Although handsome, Herr Leitner is undeserving of the hand of a woman who doesn't love him. It would be the best for both of us, don't you think so?"

"With all due respect, I disagree. You know as well as I that your mother wouldn't hesitate to make matters worse by watching you more closely. You won't have any freedom and I don't want that for you."

"Please understand this is my only choice. I'd rather spend my days alone than married to a man that isn't Stephen."

The maid sighed and stood. One side of her perfectly combed back hair was disheveled from our embrace.

"I know I can't stop you," she said, "but think more about it tomorrow. You need rest right now. Goodnight, Daphne."

"Goodnight," I mumbled as I took a sip of the tea she had brought me.

The sweet citrus taste was a small luxury, but nothing that could replace the empty space in my heart. In the midst of my conversation, I was distracted from the sadness, but it wasn't so anymore. The pain came back, this time unbearably miserable. Bittersweet memories of him passed one by one through my mind while I tried desperately to visualise every aspect of his gentle character. I could only ever picture his breathtakingly gorgeous eyes, or the freckles across his arms, or his soft voice, but not all at once. When this realization came to me, that I could not picture the entire grace of his being, I began to lose my breath. I lifted my hand to my chest and closed my eyes in an attempt to calm myself.

"Just think of a pleasure in life," I whispered to myself.

Tears streamed down my cheeks and neck when the only pleasures that came to mind were the rich sound of my cello, and my darling's bright laughter. Both echoed in my mind simultaneously as if my own subconscious wished only to ridicule me with my past. My sweet, euphoric past that I took for granted.

Without the energy to change into my nightgown, I layed in my bed and continued to let my tears wash whatever sorrow away that they could. The last thing I saw was a blurred vision of the floral pattern of my bed sheets.