Far from the reach of civilization and beyond the countryside’s expanses, laid a remote establishment in the middle of nowhere. This place, which seemed to exist outside of time, was a town of one building, and was completely self-sufficient. Inside the tall walls hid a very rich, and carefully kept, moderately sized farm. It was like a small Garden of Eden, in that it contained every necessary plant, crop and animal needed for a healthy and comfortable life. Anyone who might happen upon this small fortress would never know that a paradise lay within, especially considering the very brown land that accommodated it. Surrounded by multitudes of acreage, this walled residence was carefully nestled in between two intersecting dirt roads.

Except for the walls and the crossroad, there was nothing to see for miles around. All evidence of civilized life was carefully concealed within the enclosed walls. Few people entered or left at a time, and there was only one consistent face. The secluded establishment belonged to a woman named Lila, and on certain days she would leave her home alone, but re-enter with a guest. Some days it happened the opposite way; she would leave with a guest and return to her home alone.

It was very rare for Lila to leave her house, because everything she needed existed within her four walls. Nevertheless, special days required her to make the short, half-mile journey to the crossroad. This was one of those ‘special days’. Lila walked until she arrived at her destination and simply stopped. While she waited, she looked into the distance to see nothing out of the ordinary. The land surrounding her was a vast prairie that went on for miles. Although the land was bare it still held natural beauty. The wind calmly brushed through the tall grass, creating swaying waves. The land she lived on remained untouched by the advances of technologies. This land she loved was the only place that would continue through time as it was.

As she took in long breaths of fresh air, the wind at the center of the crossroad began to turn violent. It was time. The wind twisted and turned, pushing and pulling all at once. A sliver of time ripped, exposing a different world. Lila stood still, far enough to not be affected by the time rift. A hand appeared from the other side of the rip. An arm, torso and finally a head followed it. A man stumbled into Lila’s side; he nearly fell to his knees on the dirt road. The rift sewed itself back together, leaving him stranded in a world foreign to him.

He was disoriented and it took him a few minutes to regain his composure. He was wearing a tunic that was draped with a chlamys. Lila carefully inspected his outfit from her short distance away; she was still unnoticed. The man’s back was to her, but Lila could guess what sorts of things he was feeling and thinking. He stood and was very still. He took in the sea of vast nothingness. When it was clear that he would stand awestruck on his own for a while, Lila softly cleared her throat. Startled, he turned to see her.

Lila sweetly smiled at him and spoke in greek, “Hello traveler, welcome to Limbo.” Her greek was a bit rusty, but she managed dryly joke about being in the underworld. Although Lila was American, she was dressed in a Kimono, which made her seem even more unnatural to him.

“A goddess” was the first thing that spilled from his mouth. Lila lightly pressed her hand to her lips and let out a melodious laugh.

“I get that sometimes, but no, I’m mortal. I’m someone who helps people like you find their way back home again. Now please, tell me your name.”

“I am Heron”, was all he felt comfortable saying.

Lila bowed slightly, “Greetings Heron, my name is Lila. You have many questions and I have answers, although depending on your question, it may or may not be answered.” She motioned for him to follow her as she began to walk towards home. “Judging by your clothes, you come from fourth century Greece. I’m sorry to say that you have accidentally traveled far from what you know. This is America and the year is past two thousand AD; you have traveled to the future. Do you understand what I am saying?”

Heron gave no response as his eyes slightly glazed over. Lila laughed again, “You’ll soon believe once we enter those walls. You decided to visit us on a very eventful day. Today we are having a festival to make our Japanese guests feel more at home. We haven’t had a Greek guest in a while, so I apologize if my Greek is rough.”

They were halfway to the walls when Lila stopped talking. She had seen displaced travelers all her life and understood that people needed time to register their predicament. Some people adjusted better than others…some people couldn’t adjust at all. Lila never knew who would act how, she had to wait and see. Heron stopped walking behind her. Maybe he couldn’t adjust?

“You live in this fortress with others like me? Others who come from different times and places?” Lila smiled and nodded, confirming his questions as true. “Are you really mortal?”

She closed the gap between them and extended her arm, “Here, take my hand.” Feeling a little braver, he took it. “See, I am as human as you. I age and one day I will die.” Heron moved in closer, concentrating on her face. He took her face into his hand.

“How old are you?” Heron was surprised to see lines under her eyes and spoke bluntly, “You are aged, but you seem so young. You’re eyes betray your face completely; they are deep and old.” Lila took his hand into her own and smiled.

“I’m older than what you would consider a female’s prime for your day, but I’m still considered in my prime for my era. Well, maybe.” She laughed again, “Anyway, it’s impolite to ask a lady her age.”

“You toy with me?”

“No, I’m simply refusing to answer in the nicest way possible.” Lila gave him a wink and before he could respond, she walked ahead of him. Without turning to him or slowing down, she sweetly commanded, “follow me.”

The walls had only one entrance and it was large enough for two people to walk through at a time. As they approached the double doors, Heron followed the tall walls up with his eyes, until his neck was arched back as far as it could go.

“Your walls…do they exist to keep people out, or keep people in?”

“You’re very sharp, Heron. These walls serve both purposes.” She turned away from the doors. “Look around you, aside from me, no one lives around these parts for miles. But if by some chance someone were to come by, they would ask too many questions about the people staying here. Inside here are people from many different times, people who shouldn’t be exposed to this era. The present might change if we’re not careful.” She looked to Heron, who was carefully watching her movements. “This is a good time to tell you the rules of my house. Respect those around you, they are all strangers here, like yourself. This is not a residence; you will have to return home, no exceptions. You are not allowed in my personal space; this place is designed to be a comfortable stay for guests, but there is a section I keep closed off to my visitors. There are no social classes here. Once you step inside these walls we are all equal, so I expect you to give a helping hand every once in a while. My family has been housing displaced travelers for generations and we have experienced much, so my word is the final say on any matter. Please respect my decisions. And finally, there is to be no romantic involvement, of any kind with any other guests. I know you have the capacity to understand the consequences of such actions.”

Heron nodded his head and turned to the doors, “I understand.” Lila nodded and unlocked the doors, pushing them both open at once.

The doors opened to reveal a different world completely. While the outside was wide with open, somewhat dreary, spaces and virgin territory, inside seemed comfortably cluttered. Upon entering, the first view was of a garden containing a variety of neatly trimmed trees. Large shapely rocks were carefully placed to create designs and thick, tall marble pillars held up a ceiling of glass. Flowers of all kinds and colors flanked stone walkways, and marble fountains of various sizes were spread throughout the garden. Around the garden seemed to be small forests of fruit trees. A bird aviary sat right in the middle of the space. It was filled with many beautiful exotic birds and different species of edible plants. To the left side of the greenhouse and aviary was a long gazebo structure built into the surrounding wall. It was decorated with colored tapestries and dim lights.

They continued to walk farther in until they could hear music. They soon arrived at a grand stone courtyard, which was decorated to look like Japan during a festival. Guests were having fun playing games and setting off small noisemakers. People of various cultures and times were enjoying a taste of Japan.

Heron was bewildered. It was his first time seeing a glimpse of Japan. He even jumped a little when the small fireworks went off. Lila and Heron stood behind a tree and watched everyone in the courtyard laughing and enjoying the humble festivities. She looked to Heron who had turned his attention to her. “Would you like to join them, or would you like a tour?” Heron looked towards the lights and people and looked back to Lila, “Show me around. I want to know everything.” Lila nodded.