7.12.25: The Death Watch

Sam’s watch stopped the moment his wife died. For years, he wore it anyway. On a whim, he visited an old repair shop he’d never noticed before. Dusty windows. Smelled like metal and memories. The man behind the counter inspected the watch and nodded. “I can fix it, but time will cost you.” Sam agreed. The man turned a gear, muttered something in a language Sam didn’t know. The watch ticked. So did everything else. Sam left and found her waiting at home, alive. Smiling. Laughing. The next day, the watch stopped again. And so did everything else.