Needle in a Timestack

In a near-future world, temporal aberrations become commonplace, transforming time travel into an elite hobby known as 'time jaunting.' This change spurs the growth of an industry focused on memory preservation and the psychological consequences of such temporal adventures, indicating a society grappling with the implications of altering time.

Nick Mikkelsen, an architect, and his wife Janine, a talented photographer, enjoy a seemingly idyllic life together. However, beneath the surface, tensions and hidden fractures begin to emerge, hinting at deeper issues in their relationship.

After experiencing his third time shift in three years, Nick feels the weight of determining the stability of his life and marriage. This event triggers a series of introspections about his past choices and the direction of his relationship with Janine.

The Mikkelsens face a distressing situation when their beloved dog goes missing, adding to Nick's anxiety. The situation worsens as they find a strange cat from an alternate timeline in place of their pet, prompting Nick to further question the integrity of their reality.

Nick's old college acquaintance, Tommy Hambleton, reappears in their lives, igniting Nick's suspicions of Tommy trying to win back Janine's affection. Nick becomes increasingly jealous of the connection between his wife and her former husband, which drives his obsession with unraveling the shrouded truths.

In a desperate attempt to clear his doubts, Nick approaches Tommy under the guise of rekindling their friendship. However, Nick's true motivation is to confront Tommy about his perceived meddling in their timeline, which leads to a tense exchange veiled in evasions.

Nick's sister, Zoe, delivers devastating news about her partner Sabila, who has tragically passed away in a climbing accident. This moment forces Nick to confront the harsh realities of life in a world where timelines can be manipulated, adding another layer of emotional turmoil.

As Nick becomes more consumed by his paranoia, Janine's patience begins to wear thin. The couple's communication deteriorates, culminating in Janine's decision to meet Tommy, which exacerbates Nick's fears of losing her forever.

During an intended journey to reconnect as a couple, Nick and Janine are thrown into a significant temporal shift. Nick finds himself isolated and confused, realizing that something profound has altered their shared history.

In this new reality, Nick discovers he is married to Alex Leslie, completely unaware of the changes that have occurred. The realization unfolds slowly through subtle cues, and he grapples with understanding what has truly happened to his previous life.

Zoe later discloses that Sabila was reborn, but only due to her own manipulations of time, sparking a reflective moment for Nick about the implications of playing with temporal realities. This information adds layers of complexity to Nick's understanding of relationships in their altered state.

Determined to mend the timeline and rectify the missteps, Nick embarks on a journey back 13 years into the past. He seeks to confront Tommy directly, hoping to persuade him to approach Alex sincerely and ensure a better outcome.

Before returning to his present, Nick leaves an enigmatic note for his future self, encouraging a connection between Alex and Tommy. This act of foresight is meant to secure the bond and lead him to the partner whose essence he once recognized.

Upon returning to his current timeline, Nick enjoys a reunion organized by Zoe, where old friends express gratitude for the current state of their lives. However, Nick's feelings of absence remind him of the dramatic shifts he has experienced.

As Nick prepares to leave the reunion, he catches a glimpse of Janine, who is passionately documenting moments through her photography. Their eyes meet, and an unspoken bond reignites between them, leaving Nick in trepidation about his feelings and his future.