A man grapples with the death of his wife, Jane, who died in a tragic accident. Despite witnessing her burial, he experiences inexplicable phenomena that suggest she might still be alive in another reality. After a series of strange occurrences, including a peculiar experience with his front door and finding Jane's diary entries written in her handwriting, he becomes convinced that they are communicating across different "nows" or realities. As he navigates his grief, he discovers that he can write to Jane in her diary, and she responds, revealing her own feelings of loss and confusion. Their correspondence brings him temporary joy, but the realization that they are separated by an insurmountable barrier of existence weighs heavily on him. He confides in his friend, a lawyer named Haynes, who struggles to rationalize the bizarre events and suggests that Jimmy might be experiencing a form of delusion. Despite Haynes' skepticism, Jimmy remains hopeful that the barrier between their realities will thin, allowing them to reunite. As time passes, Jimmy's mental state becomes increasingly fragile, and he believes they are on the verge of breaking through to each other. However, one night, during a phone call with Haynes, Jimmy disappears without a trace, leaving behind only the evidence of their strange connection. Haynes is left to ponder the implications of Jimmy's disappearance and the nature of reality itself. He reflects on the possibility of multiple nows, where different outcomes exist, and questions the nature of existence and love. The story concludes with Haynes contemplating the impossibility of the events while acknowledging the emotional truth behind them, leaving the reader to grapple with the themes of love, loss, and the mysteries of existence.
By Murray Leinster · First published 1970 · Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Psychological Fiction