04 october 2016
notes for a scifi story
It's a time machine, he explains. To the past, one way.
But, he smiles, you need a painting to lock the other end of the portal. And the painting has to have a non trivial amount of cobalt blue pigment, and been completed within 4 days. We also know it must be located in a room with 20 feet of free space, and be large enough for the traveller to crawl through.
We began sending volunteers and looking for changes or messages from history, but since nothing was found we assumed traversal was not possible, or diverging our universe.
I can tell you with all confidence though, that it does work. I myself am living evidence of that.
Eight years ago I tumbled onto the floor in Alvero Contreras's studio while he finishing up the portrait of his mother.
In my future that was his last, and greatest work.
After calming him down from my sudden appearence behind his back I admited that I had no belongings, family, or freinds.
He offered me a place to sleep for the night, though we stayed up till the morning in conversation. Such a simple thing, talking to someone, but such a simple thing can be what saves a life.
He's built a name for himself now, in the art world. Personally I think his newest series isn't as exciting as those raw early works.
Then again, many artists are old masters, finding their work in the twilight of life.