Another Infinite walked into the room and sat on the couch, forcing Ferikan to change the subject and not ask the question troubling her mind. “Is this the female Infinite you mentioned?”

“Yes, that’s Peter’s partner, Tina,” Garjian replied.

She looks different from the Infinite in Peter’s memories. Have his memories somehow been altered or edited?

Tina looked miserable. She had bags under her eyes, and tears streamed down her cheeks. Ferikan moved closer to Tina and noticed she held a picture frame close to her chest.

“Garjian, I’ll link with her and record her point of view.”

“Good thinking,” Garjian said, “You’re an excellent field agent, Ferikan,” he added once Ferikan established a connection with Tina.

Tick, tock.

That stupid clock is sound polluting all my data. If only I could somehow block out its incessant ticking.

Tina raised her feet on the couch and leaned the frame against her legs, looking at the picture. Her eyes began to well up again as memories flooded her mind. Ferikan received the anamnesis, and one stood out from the rest. It formed slowly and steadily into a crescendo of senses and emotions. Ferikan could record and experience the memory without severing her connection with Tina.

Tick, tock.

The memory was from their summer trip to Cyprus, shortly before Peter had proposed. Tina and Peter stood in the sea with the water up to their knees. Tina was trying to take a selfie with the sunrise in the background as it had painted the sky a majestic combination of purple, orange, and red. Peter was standing behind Tina with his hands around her waist. Tina had a smile of pure joy on her face. The alcohol was probably to blame for all their constant giggling and terrible balance, but everything felt serendipitous during those early morning hours.

“I love you,” he said, kissing her neck.

“I love you more,” she replied.

Tick, tock.

The beautiful green dress she wore that night still hangs in her closet. She never wore it since then, and the stains from the saltwater are still visible on it. He was in his blue jeans and white shirt, stained with food and drinks from the previous night’s celebrations of their third anniversary.

Tick, tock.

“Well, you are better than me at everything,” Peter replied.

Tina laughed loudly, “Yeah, well, you need to hold still now and let me take this picture.”

“Not without getting a kiss first,” Peter said.

Tick, tock.

Tina turned only her head, intending to give Peter a quick kiss but paused as she caught the yearning look in his eyes. Out of instinct, she licked her lips and kept them slightly parted as she retracted her tongue. Peter’s gaze moved to her lips, and his pupils dilated. She inhaled deeply, and the rich woody scent of his perfume mixed with his sweat and the salty water of the Mediterranean created an intoxicating aroma that filled her nostrils.

Tick, tock.

Tina closed her eyes as the smell evoked intense sexual sensations of their most recent nights on the island, and she became aware of the gentle waves flowing between her legs. It felt as if they were naked between the bedsheets and her nerve endings tingled with excitement and anticipation of his touch. Overwhelmed by a sudden craving to be one with Peter, Tina opened her eyes and looked into his glowing eyes as she arched her back and leaned closer.

Tick, tock.

Perfectly in tune with her thoughts, Peter tightened his arm around her waist and pulled her close as they locked eyes. Tina turned her body towards him and their legs intertwined. She felt the throbbing in his groin and his body heating up, defying the cool waters of the sea. Her cheeks flushed with desire. Her heart raced, and she felt the pulse in her throat, interrupting her breathing as her mouth turned dry. They both leaned in and kissed, soft and gentle at first, deepening at the first stroke of their tongues.

Tick, tock.

She placed her hand holding the phone around his neck and the other on his chest, feeling his heart pounding against his sternum. He grabbed her thigh before moving his hand upwards, caressing her breast and stroking her neck as he cupped her jaw. He bit at her lower lip before slowly pulling away. Tina leaned out from the kiss, and all she could see was the love Peter felt for her reflected in his glossy eyes.

Tick, tock.

It was only a brief moment, but to Ferikan, it felt like time had slowed down, and the moment lasted a fraction longer.

Tick.

None of the Infinites had said a word.

Tock.

Yet Ferikan thought she heard a message exchanged between them.

Tick.

Tick. I love you. Tock. Tick. Don’t ever let go. Tock.

Tock.

At that moment, Tina knew she wanted to be with Peter for the rest of her life.

Tick.

Until the end of time.

Tock.

Tick, tock.

“One more,” Peter said and leaned in for a second kiss.

“No,” Tina protested between her giggles and faced forward. “We’re taking a selfie first.”

Tick, tock.

Peter closed his eyes as he kissed her cheek. Tina laughed, brimming with happiness. That was when she took what she believed was the perfect picture, thankfully, without dropping her phone in the water.

Tick, tock.

Ferikan found herself having difficulty breathing through her suddenly runny nose. She wiped it on her sleeve and realised a few tears had run down her cheeks. She rubbed her eyes and leaned in, trying to better look at the picture frame in Tina’s hands. Ferikan caught her reflection in the glass and was surprised by the saddened and pained expression she had on. Then it suddenly clicked.

“Peter couldn’t see his reflection,” she whispered.

“I’m sorry, what?” Garjian turned towards Ferikan.

“Earlier, you said it was what Peter couldn’t see. His reflection.”

Garjian offered a faint smile and a slight nod.

Tina pulled the picture close to her chest and burst into sobs. It caught Peter’s attention, and everything fell into place within his mind. The world made sense once again.

”No, no, Tina, baby, please don’t cry. I’m right here,” he moved next to the couch and knelt. “I’m here, and I’ll never leave you. Do you hear me? I will never leave you!” He tried to touch her face, but his hand went right through her.

“She isn’t showing any signs of sensing his presence,” Ferikan noted.

Garjian cleared his throat. “Just as they can not interact with us and our dimension, Infinites causing this bridge between dimensions appear unable to communicate with the rest of their kind,” he said in a deep, authoritative voice. “It seems they exist in a dimensional limbo.” He paused briefly and continued in a tone about one thousand times more jolly and in a much higher pitch, “Put a note on this moment of the recording for the analysts.”

“Dear God, why do you do this?” Peter cried out and raised his head to the heavens. “Tina doesn’t deserve this.”

Bright white light flooded the room and blinded Peter. Garjian and Ferikan covered their eyes and blinked frenziedly, trying to adjust to the new environment and regain their vision. The temperature rose in the blink of an eye, and Ferikan smelled petrichor and pine trees.

Peter closed his eyes and lowered his head. “I was stupid, but Tina doesn’t deserve this. Please,” Peter’s voice cracked, and his throat tightened, “Spare her from the pain,” he fell to his knees and wept. When Peter opened his eyes, he found himself kneeling over a grave.