Joanne's Odyssey.

Joanne gazed at the enormous cocoon-shaped structure, positioned atop a flat, circular metallic base, which the instructor revealed was the driving motor. Crossing and uncrossing her legs, she delved into her purse and picked up the last bubble gum. She chewed for a while and blew a bubble, playfully popping it with a finger, creating a resonant burst.

Miss Jane cast a disapproving glance at her, prompting her to whisper an apologetic "sorry." She expelled the bubble gum and mashed it into the soil beneath her feet.

Joanne will be the first one," Miss Jane declared.

Joanne's eyes gleamed as she glanced at the time-travel machine. "Yes!" she squealed, clenching her fist and throwing it into the air. The prospect of being the first among her classmates to test the machine had been a daydream since the day Miss Jane introduced it in class.

The instructor pressed a button, and the cocoon unfolded like a blossoming flower. Inside, it was comfortably padded, adorned with lights and what appeared to be a screen—perhaps to identify the era if one wished to halt there. Ignoring the instructor's guidance, Joanne stepped in, one leg after the other, settling on the padded floor with crossed legs in a yoga pose. Beaming, she acknowledged her cheering classmates with a smile and a wave.

The cocoon sealed shut, bathing the interior in light. Joanne peered into the screen, finding only empty space. As the cocoon began to spin, she exuberantly threw her arms in the air, screaming "yahoo!" As the thoughts of what era she would land graced her mind, she felt the cocoon cease spinning and come to a sudden halt. "Was this supposed to happen?" She yelped.

The cocoon tilted, sending Joanne tumbling through space, her limbs flailing to find stability. She shut her eyes, attempting to pray but struggling to recall the words. Her heart raced faster than her descent. The fall's force, loosening her ponytail, sent it flying over her head. She landed on a dry, gritty surface with a thud, and she whimpered. She peeked with one eye before opening both eyes.

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Joanne surveyed the surroundings, and a wild laughter bubbled within her. She pulled herself up to her feet and encountered curious stares in a landscape dominated by brick houses, steel casement windows, and chimneys. There were no tall buildings or skyscrapers. The women cast furtive glances at her as they passed by, adorning beads and donning dresses and skirts below the knee.

As a carriage rolled by, its occupants drew back the curtain to sneak a peek at her. She dusted off her shirt and jeans, inspecting her sneakers for damage, and was relieved to find them unscathed.

"Follow me." A voice whispered from behind, prompting her to twirl around. Before her stood a young man dressed in knicker pants, a shirt, and long stockings that amused her. He had a freckled complexion and wore his auburn hair in a bob cut.

"Follow me, now!" He demanded.

Stifling a laugh, Joanne turned around to check if he was referring to her, only to find no one else standing there. Returning her attention to the boy, she found him already in motion and trudged along. They walked a pole's distance, and he turned abruptly to look at her, causing her to bump into him.

"Could you please give me a heads-up before turning?" she inquired.

"Apologies. I had to get you out of there. Word has spread that a peculiar human fell from the sky, and they're arranging to capture you for a study at the laboratory."

Joanne's face turned pallid. She could feel the hairs on her body standing erect. She wondered why she was still there because she distinctly recalled the instructor saying that time travel would last just five minutes.

"What year are you from?" the young man asked.

"It was 2024 when I journeyed through the time machine. What year is it here?"

"1922." He extended his hands for a shake. "I'm Ben." Joanne hesitated for a moment before accepting, covering his hand with both of hers.

"Please, I want to go home. Help me!" She pleaded, a sob in her throat.

He sensed her hands shivering and squeezed them before pulling away. Ben shared the legend of a waterfall in the woods that opens up in the middle once every hundred years during a blood moon night. Supposedly, jumping into it allows time travel to one's desired era. He revealed his own experience with a time-travel machine malfunctioning some years ago and how he has been waiting.

Fortunately, this was the 100th year, and that night was predicted to be the blood moon. At the prospect of reuniting with her family, Joanne, without hesitation, wrapped her arms around him, lifted him, and turned him around before gently setting him down with an apology.

The sun was blazing when they began their journey to the waterfall. Wandering through the forest, they hid from the locals, exchanging no words and only communicating through silent signs. By the time they arrived, stars adorned the night sky, and the moon resembled a post-blood bath scene. Joanne squatted by the water, scooping some with her hands for a drink. She yawned and slumped onto the green grass. Her mind felt clouded as tiredness obscured her clarity and focus.

Ben retrieved a pocket watch with a chain from his pocket, opening the hunter case and glancing at it. "We have 10 minutes. Let's hope it is as true as they say." Closing the pocket watch, he placed it back in his pocket.

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Joanne, reclining on the grass with her hand behind her head, observed the stars. "How have you managed to survive here for years?"

"It's a lengthy tale, and now is neither the right place nor time. But if our paths cross again, I promise I'll share it with you."

They waited in silence for the remaining time. At first, the water seemed to bubble in a circular motion, then it parted, forming an opening in the middle. Joanne leaped to her feet. "The legend is real. I'm going home!" She squealed and hugged Ben.

It's the moment of truth. We must take the leap now."

Ben reached out, grasping her hand. He glanced at her, and she nodded. Running into the water, ready to jump, she shouted, "My name is Joanne."

Joanne's heart raced as the swirling waters of the mysterious waterfall engulfed her. Plunging through space, she felt the rush of air until she landed on soft, green ground. Opening her eyes cautiously, relief washed over her as she found herself back on the lawn of her house. She scanned the surroundings for Ben, but he was nowhere to be found.

Joanne's mother was about to turn off the lights when she spotted her daughter standing on the lawn in the middle of the night. She rushed to inform her father, and they both hurried out of the house to welcome their daughter. Joanne noticed them and ran into their waiting arms. Tears filled her eyes as they showered her with kisses. The family shared a heartfelt moment together outside before retreating back into the house.

Once inside, her parents explained how they had opened her cocoon after five minutes, only to find her gone. For the past week, they have been searching for her, distributing flyers throughout town. Joanne couldn't believe she had been gone for a week when it felt like just a few hours. She shared her journey and the story of Ben with her parents.

"Where is he now?" Her mother asked

"Home, I suppose."

Joanne kissed her parents goodnight and retreated to her room. As she drew the curtains to shield the moon's rays, she wondered if she would ever cross paths with Ben again.