"Roy, wake up! It's time to go on our first run of 2024. Let's not break our resolutions on the first day."
Roy groaned, and pulled the covers over his head. "Agreed. Nora, let's change our resolutions instead. I'll sleep in every day for an extra ten minutes, and you'll have one extra dessert each week."
Nora giggled as she pulled the covers off the bed, and pounced on him. "How about we just double up on our current resolutions instead? I for one want to spend many more years with you."
Wide awake, Roy tackled her, then smothered her in kisses. "You know I'm already working on that. If gLoF works the way it should, we'll never have to say goodbye."
Nora hugged him, and gently kissed his forehead. "You're a brilliant scientist, and I know if anyone can find the fountain of youth, it's you. But until then I think we should guarantee success in more traditional ways."
Roy swung his legs over, and stood. "Tradition is overrated. I'd rather use quantum physics than get up early and go running in the cold."
Nora shook her head. "There's absolutely no reason not to do both."
He stretched, then walked towards the door. "I can think of a few..."
Nora laughed. "I'll see you in twenty minutes for breakfast."
Later that day Roy stood in his laboratory, concentrating on a small rectangular device. The multicolored lights on top blinked rapidly, then stopped.
He waited for the count of one hundred. "They should be able to establish a pattern. Maybe if I can narrow down what's causing the instability..."
Several hours later, he pressed a button on the device and sat down. "Maybe Nora is right and I should focus on exercise and a good diet instead. Sure we're making groundbreaking discoveries all the time, but immortality could be generations away. This is assuming it's even possible."
The device beeped, and he jumped. His eyes widened as he saw the lights slowly begin to pulse rhythmically. "This is impossible. I disabled the gLoF's power supply. It shouldn't be able to do anything. Let alone do exactly what I've been trying to get it to do!"
As he watched, he began to smile. "I think it's working. I don't know how or why, but it looks like it's working!"
Roy quickly grabbed the vial with the single fruit fly in it, and placed it on the table in front of the device. He pushed a button, and a small beam of light bathed the vial.
"I guess I'll know soon enough if it's working," he whispered, picking up the machine. "Well what do you know, I guess I did forget to turn it off. Or maybe I accidentally pushed the button twice."
The next day, he frowned as he looked at the vial. "The fly died of old age. It didn't extend its life at all. Oh well, back to the old drawing board. At least now I know what doesn't work..."
Almost a year later, Roy and Nora sat in their living room. Nora hugged him tightly. "Roy, I'm so proud of you for keeping your resolution for the whole year! How would you like to celebrate New Year's Day tomorrow? We can do and eat anything you want."
Roy grinned. I'd like to celebrate by making a resolution that I'll sleep in every day, and only run if it's to grab the last chocolate filled donut at the cafe."
Nora gently slapped his shoulder. "I said one day, not one year! Our resolutions continue on the second - the same ones as for 2024."
"Roy, wake up! It's time to go on our first run of 2024. Let's not break our resolutions on the first day."
Roy covered his head and chuckled. "Very funny, Nora. Now let me sleep like you promised."
She pounced on him, exactly like she had a year ago.
He composed himself and went through the routine, his mind racing. "I wonder if she's pulling a prank? She's never done that before. I don't think she even did it to anyone as a kid."
Roy checked several websites from both his computer and phone, then again from the computer at work. "This isn't a joke. The year has reset. The device must have worked, but in a completely unexpected way. But why on me? I directed the beam at the fly. Nora doesn't seem to remember last year, and neither does anyone else I've encountered."
He checked the fruit fly vials. "Everything seems exactly like it was last year - uh, I mean this year? I don't really know what I mean!"
He looked at the device, being very careful not to touch the power button. "I just won't repeat the experiment. I'll stop using the device, and work only on theory this year. Or last year, as the case may be. Oh man, this could get confusing!"
"Roy, wake up! It's time to go on our first run of 2024. Let's not break our resolutions on the first day."
Roy groaned, and pulled the covers over his head. "Not again," he thought.
"Oh well, at least now I actually am immortal, and Nora and I don't have to say goodbye," he thought with satisfaction several cycles later.
All went well for a while, until during the beginning of a cycle Nora recoiled from him, and gasped.
He propped himself up on his elbow. "What's wrong, Honey?"
She carefully touched his face, tracing a deep line. Then she ran her hand through his hair. "You look like you've aged ten years overnight, Roy. Is there something you're not telling me?"
Roy sighed. "Yes, but I'm not sure if you're going to believe it."
She crossed her arms over her chest. "Try me."
He did, to the best of his ability.
She shook her head. "I believe you, but I don't really understand."
He nodded. "Neither do I. It wasn't supposed to do this."
"Can't you reverse it?" she asked.
He put his head in his hands. "I don't know. I didn't try, because I thought I'd stopped aging. I thought it was a gift. I mean, who wouldn't want to live in a time loop, like the ones in those holiday movies? Especially if the loop was long enough to actually enjoy it. A day just isn't enough!"
She nodded. But now that you know, you have to try. Otherwise one day I'll wake up and you'll be an old man, while I'll still be... well, not exactly young, but younger. And then eventually you just won't be here."
He took her hands. "I promise I'll spend this whole year trying. That'll be my new resolution."
She grinned. "No, that'll be your extra resolution. The others still apply!"
He laughed and groaned at the same time. "It's a deal."
A year later, the couple held each other in their living room, watching the rectangular device pulsing. "I couldn't find a way to reverse this, but I do believe I've been able to bring you along, and perhaps even stop the aging process."
Nora snuggled in closer. "I don't care when we are, as long as we're together."
To be continued
Cover image made in Canva Pro using their gallery