The Clock of Memories

Episode 4: "Between Light and Shadow"

Victor Almeida sat on the sofa, the watch still pulsing in his hand. The emotional turmoil that had engulfed him after his last experience left him more confused than before. He wondered if, in trying to correct his mistakes, he was only deepening the scars he so desperately tried to heal. The weight of the watch felt like a burden, a constant reminder that time, once lost, could not be regained without consequences.

Feeling anxious and vulnerable, he decided it was time to confront the truth about what he had become. He needed to understand how this mysterious object could affect his life and his memories. Victor stood up and began pacing the room, the tension in his chest mounting.

“If the watch truly has the power to change the past,” he thought, “I need to figure out how to use it without causing more harm.”

The watch in his hand seemed to pulse with its own energy, as if it were preparing to reveal more secrets. Determined to explore this connection, Victor sat back down at the table and closed his eyes. “What do you want from me?” he whispered to the watch. “What do I need to learn?”

Then an idea sparked in his mind: what if he could use the watch not to relive specific moments but to observe how his decisions had shaped the present? If he could see the impact of his actions, perhaps he could find a way to live with the consequences without being consumed by regret.

With this new approach, Victor activated the watch once more, his mind focused on the hope of gaining a better understanding of his own journey. The light enveloped him again, and soon he found himself in a familiar setting: a park where he used to spend afternoons with Clara and Ana. The sun shone brightly, and children laughed, but something felt different.

He observed the scene, realizing that what unfolded before him was not a specific moment but a time when life was simple and full of joy. Clara and Ana were there, sitting on a bench, laughing and sharing an ice cream. He hid behind a tree, watching. The love and happiness between mother and daughter were palpable, but what truly surprised him was the conversation that unfolded.

“Mommy, why doesn’t Daddy come anymore?” Ana asked, her innocent tone piercing Victor’s heart.

“Oh, sweetie, he needs some time to understand some things,” Clara replied, a sad smile on her lips. “But he will always love you.”

Victor felt a wave of guilt and pain. He knew that his decision to distance himself had direct consequences on Ana's life. Clara’s gaze, a mix of sadness and hope, was a painful reminder of how his absence had affected his family.

“If I had been more present…” he murmured to himself. “If I had fought harder.”

But as he stood there, watching the scene, something began to change. The setting started to distort, and Victor found himself being pulled into another memory—one that was much darker. The living room was now dim, and Clara was alone, her eyes red from tears. He heard a familiar sound: their argument, filled with shouts and cutting words.

“You never care about how I feel! It’s always about your work, your career!” Clara shouted, the pain in her voice echoing in Victor's mind.

He wanted to scream, to intervene, but he was powerless. The watch pulsed in his hand, the light illuminating his face. In that moment, Victor realized he could not merely observe; he needed to confront what he had done and the pain he had caused.

The memories were intertwining, and what once seemed like an opportunity for redemption was now becoming a labyrinth of regret. He looked at the watch again, uncertainty gnawing at his determination. “What do you really want to teach me?”

The light from the watch began to shine brightly, and Victor felt himself being pulled back to his room, confused and terrified. What did it all mean? What had he learned?

But as he tried to process the new revelations, an unsettling thought crossed his mind: what if there was something more about the watch that he still did not understand? What if, in addition to reliving memories, the object could reveal hidden truths he never wanted to face?

Victor sat down, his heart heavy. The line between what was real and what was memory was fading, and he knew he needed to understand not only what he had lost but also what he had left behind. It was time to uncover the truth behind the watch and the role it played in his life—and at what cost.