When Robert stepped out of the shiny portal, he smelled the warm, humid air of South Carolina. He also heard the distant sound of happy family reunions. The 2023 family gathering was only two days away. But for Robert, it had been over a century since he last walked with his wife and children. In 1915, France, during World War I, his life was taken away. Now, he had the opportunity to reunite with Clara and his ancestors. They had kept his memory alive all these years. But inside him, what he had become during a strange struggle would change their reunion forever.

The portal shone brightly with a magical light, changing colors like a butterfly’s wings. Its primary hue was a soothing blend of cerulean blue and emerald green, interwoven with streaks of violet and silver. The colors pulsed gently, as if the portal itself possessed a heartbeat.

In the silence of the moment, the portal emitted a soft, melodic hum—a sound similar to the hushed whispers of a long-forgotten lullaby. The tune was delicate and haunting, making the portal feel the significance of Robert’s return.

As Robert stepped through the portal, the colors swirled and intensified, like a vortex collapsing in upon itself. It was as though the portal, having served its purpose, was folding in on its own existence, fading into the air like a mirage in the desert. The bright colors faded away, disappearing completely. Only the memory of their brilliance remained, along with a noticeable feeling of change in the air.

Robert’s eyes immediately caught Clara’s own as the portal slipped away to the underpinnings of the cosmos. Clara’s breathless question took him back to the first time he saw her.

“Robert?”

Her eyes widened as a flood of memories overwhelmed her. Her mind went back to 1913.

Clara stepped out of the bank, her friends and coworkers in tow, chattering animatedly about their plans for the evening. Their voices were lively as laughter filled the air as they stepped out into the bustling streets of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Monica grinned with excitement, “I swear, you’re the queen of advice. You should start charging for your counseling sessions!”

Clara blushed. “Oh, you know I like helping out. Besides, no one wants to pay for my ramblings.”

Monica teased Clara as they strolled the street. “Well, maybe you’ll find a handsome millionaire client someday who can’t resist your wisdom!”

Rhonda leaned against Clara, they walked. “Or resist her charms under her skirts.”

The ladies laughed as Clara chuckled, her cheeks flushed.

Evelyn, with a playful grin, elbowed Clara. “So, Clara, any juicy gossip to spill today?”

Clara laughed, her cheeks flushed. “Oh, you know me, Evelyn. I’m just a vault of secrets.”

Rhonda, the office joker, chimed in, “Well, you should open that vault because it looks like you’ve seen a ghost.”

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However, she focused her eyes on a lone figure across the street. Robert, with his dapper attire and magnetic presence, had captured her attention in an instant.

Clara’s gaze had locked onto Robert across the street, and she could hardly hear her friends’ teasing anymore. His smile, like a siren’s call, beckoned her closer.

Evelyn nudged her again, her voice laced with amusement. “Hey, Clara, your eyes look like they’re on vacation.”

Clara’s voice faltered as she struggled to find her words. Her heart raced, and she couldn’t tear her gaze away from Robert’s enchanting smile. “I-I...uh... I think I left something at my desk. You guys go ahead. I’ll catch up.”

Rhonda playfully tapped Clara on her arm. “Oh, I see what’s going on here! Clara’s got herself a secret admirer!”

“Spill the beans, Clara! Who’s the lucky guy?” Monica asked with a mischievous glint in her eye, couldn’t help but nudge Clara.

She remained silent, her friends’ teasing banter washing over her. She was on a path of destiny, drawn by an irresistible force, and nothing else seemed to matter in that moment.

“So, tell us. Who’s the man that got you grinning?” Evelyn asked as the group came to a stop.

Clara, her cheeks tinged with a blush, tried to play it cool. “Oh, nothing much. Just had a good day at work, that’s all. No, it’s just... I saw someone today, and he had the most enchanting smile.”

Rhonda raised an eyebrow, a knowing grin spreading across her face. “Enchanting smile, huh? Clara, you’ve never been so poetic before. Who’s the lucky guy?”

Clara’s friends exchanged looks when they saw her rushing across the street to the man who changed everything. Her friends’ playful teasing faded into the background as her world narrowed down to that smile.

She held a shy smile as she stood in front of him. Clara was a moth to a flame, as if his smile and eyes were a bewitching spell. The ordinary world fading into the background. Robert, a dapper enigma, stood alone, his confidence and intelligence in stark contrast to the norm.

Clara said ordinary beginnings are easy to forget had it been anyone but him. But as he shook her hand and met her brown eyes, she knew before she’d taken her next breath that she would spend the rest of her life with this man. He seemed that good, that perfect of a man. His hands were warm, and his smile ignited a fire in her belly. Their hands met, and time ceased to exist, as if two lost soulmates had finally reunited.

In the vibrant heart of Tulsa, under the sweltering sun, Robert’s footsteps echoed with purpose. His attire, a casual suit that exuded confidence, concealed the magical abilities he held close. The year was 1914, and the British had sought his talents to extract gold reserves in distant Africa. The weight of secrets bore down on him as he navigated the bustling streets. He immigrated to Oklahoma to escape the forced indentured service.

And then, as if by a twist of fate, he spotted her. Clara emerged from the 1st National Bank, a vision of grace and allure. In the afternoon sun, her brown eyes sparkled with curiosity. Her skin was cocoa brown and radiant. Her long, curly hair swayed like a hypnotic dance. Their worlds collided in a momentary suspension of reality. As they locked eyes, a silent connection sparked between them.

As Clara crossed the bustling Black Wall Street road, her smile filled the air. The world had warm colors of late afternoon. They heard sounds of life around them - horse-drawn carriages, people chatting, and music from a café.

He stood there, an oasis of charm and confidence in the midst of the mundane. His gray eyes seemed to hold the secrets of the cosmos. But it was his smile that drew her in. The shape of his lips, the curve along his jaw, looked intoxicating. She felt herself tremble in anticipation.

As Clara’s hand brushed against his, an electric charge surged through her, and the world ceased to exist. The chatter of her friends faded into a distant hum, and all that remained was the magnetic pull of their connection.

Clara, her voice a soft whisper, said, “Hi.”

Robert’s gaze held hers, and a playful glint danced in his eyes. “Hello there.”