It was a Saturday late afternoon, warm and bright, the kind of day that usually made you want to lie under a tree and watch the clouds drift by. But inside the lab, there was no time for daydreaming.
The little room was buzzing with a mix of excitement and nerves. Wires curled over tables, small machines blinked, and papers were scattered everywhere. Their bags were thrown into a corner, half open, as if they'd just dropped everything to rush into this moment.
They all knew that on Monday, they'd have to return to school like nothing had happened. But today felt different. It felt like the edge of a cliff, just before you decide to jump.
Maria stood quietly, her fingers gripping her bag strap so tightly her knuckles were white. She glanced around at each of them, her voice trembling when she finally found the courage to speak.
"Okay… but if we go… when do we come back?"
Einstein turned to her, his expression soft but steady. He took a breath, almost as if he was choosing his words one by one, wanting her to really understand.
"As I've explained before," he said, his voice calm and reassuring, "one second here is equal to one whole year there. So we can spend as much time as we want exploring, learning, even living for a while. But when we return, only one second will have passed in this world. No one will notice we were ever gone."
Maria's eyes widened. Her lips parted, as though she wanted to ask more but couldn't find the words.
"So… we could go anywhere," she whispered. "Stay for days or even years… and come back without anyone knowing?"
Einstein nodded slowly, his eyes meeting hers with a quiet confidence.
"That's right," he said. "We can visit ancient cities, talk to great thinkers, watch history unfold with our own eyes. And when we come back, everything here will be just as we left it."
The room fell silent for a moment, each of them lost in their own swirling thoughts. Vinci was the first to break the hush. He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Alright! Let's start big. What about visiting the Bible times? We could meet Adam and Eve!"
Eliza laughed, shaking her head. "Really? Vinci, come on. Someone already tried that. We need something fresh, something no one has ever done."
Vinci flopped back into his chair, throwing his hands up dramatically. "Fine! Then what do you suggest?"Eliza pressed her finger to her lips, thinking deeply. Her eyes sparkled with sudden inspiration.
"Alexander," she said at last. "Alexander the Great. And after that… Hypatia of Alexandria. Imagine what we could learn from them."
Vinci sat up again, his excitement instantly returning. "Yes! Alexander first, then Hypatia. We should keep it short for the first trip. Just meet them, observe, then come back."
Maria's face twisted with worry. She bit her lip and glanced around, her voice small.
"But… what if we go and we can't come back?"
The question hung heavy in the air, sharp as a blade.
Einstein turned to her, his gaze steady and kind. He took a slow step forward.
"There's always a risk," he said gently. "Every discovery, every great leap forward carries danger. If something happens and we can't come back, then… that's the price we pay. But I believe in us. I believe we'll return safely."
Maria looked at him for a long moment. Around her, Vinci gave a goofy thumbs-up, Hawkings nodded with quiet confidence, and even Eliza managed a soft, encouraging smile.
Something changed in Maria's eyes. The fear was still there, but a spark of determination began to glow beside it.
Einstein let out a breath and looked around at each of them, his face lighting up with that spark of wonder that always seemed to follow him.
"Tomorrow," he said, his voice firm but filled with warmth. "Tomorrow we meet here. We time travel."
A slow smile crept onto his face. "Pack your things. Maybe bring some food or anything you might need. Who knows… you might not like the food they serve wherever we land," he added with a playful laugh.
They all looked at each other, a mix of fear and excitement running through their veins like a shared heartbeat.
Einstein stood there, his eyes shining, completely certain that they would return. And in that moment, it almost felt like nothing could stop them.
Something big was waiting. Something incredible was about to begin.