Period Piece

Zara Thorne squinted at the holographic display, her heart racing as the ancient coordinates materialized before her eyes. After months of painstaking research and countless dead ends, she’d finally pinpointed the location of the fabled New York time capsule. A treasure trove of pre-Collapse artifacts, perfectly preserved for over 150 years. “This is it,” she whispered, a grin spreading across her face. “The find of the century.” With trembling fingers, Zara reached out to manipulate the 3D projection, zooming in on the precise GPS coordinates. The capsule’s location pulsed like a beacon, buried deep beneath the twisted ruins of old Manhattan. ...

The rusted plow blade snagged on something buried in the earth, jerking Eliza forward. She stumbled, catching herself on the weathered wooden handles before she could fall face-first into the freshly turned soil. Wiping the sweat from her brow with a dirty sleeve, she peered down at the furrow. A glint of gold caught her eye. Eliza crouched down, her calloused fingers brushing away clumps of dark earth to reveal an ornate locket. Its delicate filigree was tarnished with age, but still beautiful. She pried it open, revealing a faded daguerreotype of a striking young woman with eyes that seemed hauntingly familiar. ...

Eleanor Prescott stood at her kitchen sink, staring out the window at the perfectly trimmed hedges that lined her backyard. The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the manicured lawn, and she could hear the distant laughter of children playing down the street. Her hands, submerged in soapy water, had long since pruned, but she barely noticed as she mechanically washed the same plate for the third time. “Ellie? Ellie, are you listening to me?” ...

The chalk squeaked against the blackboard as Mrs. Abernathy’s spidery handwriting filled the green expanse. Eliza Pearce hunched lower in her seat, willing herself to disappear. All around her, the scritch-scratch of pencils on paper mingled with whispers and the occasional muffled giggle. She kept her eyes fixed on her own pristine notebook, unmarked except for the careful lettering of her name in the top corner. “Now then, who can tell me the answer to question three?” Mrs. Abernathy’s voice cut through the classroom buzz. ...

Abigail Thornton stepped off the stagecoach, her boots crunching on the gravel path leading to the newly constructed Old Faithful Inn. The scent of pine and sulfur filled her nostrils as she took in the breathtaking landscape before her. Towering lodgepole pines stretched as far as the eye could see, their branches swaying gently in the crisp mountain breeze. “Welcome to Yellowstone, ma’am,” a gruff voice called out. Abigail turned to see a weathered park ranger approaching, his badge glinting in the afternoon sun. “I’m Lieutenant James Forsyth. You must be our new botanist.” ...

The clacking of typewriter keys filled the newsroom, a constant percussion accompanying the frenetic energy of reporters rushing to meet deadlines. Marian sat hunched over her machine, her fingers flying across the keys as she transcribed yet another article dictated by one of the male journalists. She paused only to push her glasses back up the bridge of her nose, leaving a smudge of ink behind. “Faster, Miss Holloway!” barked Edward Blackwell, the portly editor-in-chief, as he strode past her desk. “That piece needs to be on my desk in ten minutes!” ...

The silk threads danced between Mei Ling’s nimble fingers as she worked the loom, her eyes fixed on the intricate pattern emerging before her. The rhythmic clack-clack of the shuttle filled the small workshop, a soothing counterpoint to the bustle of the village beyond. Mei Ling paused, stretching her aching back and rolling her shoulders. As she did so, her gaze fell upon the faded tapestry hanging on the far wall - an heirloom passed down through generations of her family. ...

Evelyn Marsh clutched her textbooks to her chest as she hurried down the crowded hallway of Westfield High. The cacophony of slamming lockers and boisterous chatter faded into white noise as she focused on reaching her next class without incident. Head down, she wove between clumps of students, careful not to make eye contact. Just a few more steps and she’d be safely ensconced in Mr. Holloway’s AP European History class. Evelyn allowed herself a small smile of anticipation. History was her sanctuary, a place where she could lose herself in tales of long-ago events and fascinating historical figures. ...

The gentle clinking of ice in crystal tumblers punctuated the hushed voices drifting from Eleanor Rosewood’s sunroom. To any passerby, it appeared to be nothing more than another lazy Sunday afternoon gathering of well-coiffed housewives discussing the latest bestseller. But beneath the veneer of suburban propriety, a quiet rebellion was brewing. “Ladies, if we could turn our attention to chapter seven,” Eleanor—Ellie to her friends—said with a conspiratorial smile. “I believe Mrs. Holloway has some particularly insightful comments to share.” ...

The old magnolia tree cast a long shadow across Eleanor’s porch, its gnarled branches reaching out like arthritic fingers. She rocked gently in her wicker chair, sipping sweet tea and watching the neighborhood children play in the fading summer light. Their laughter carried on the warm breeze, a bittersweet reminder of days long past. Eleanor’s weathered hands trembled slightly as she set down her glass. At eighty-seven, her body was failing her, but her mind remained sharp as ever. Perhaps too sharp, she thought ruefully. Some memories were best left to fade. ...