The Time Traveler's Journal

Lena Williams had always been curious about her grandmother's attic. It was filled with dusty
old boxes, forgotten trinkets, and strange antiques. On one particularly lazy afternoon, while her
parents were out, Lena decided to explore. She wasn't expecting to find anything more than old
photographs and a few dusty furniture pieces. But buried beneath a pile of old quilts, she
uncovered an object that would change her life forever—a leather-bound journal, its edges worn
and frayed, its cover imprinted with strange symbols that Lena couldn't quite decipher.

The journal felt unusually heavy in her hands. She opened it to the first page, only to find it
completely blank. Confused, Lena flipped through the pages, hoping to find something,
anything, that might explain the oddity of the book. Her fingers froze when she reached the last
page. There, scrawled in fine ink, was a single line of text: "Speak these words aloud, and you
will see what history has hidden."

Skeptical, Lena shrugged and muttered the words aloud, not believing anything would happen.
But as soon as the words left her mouth, the world around her shifted. The air grew heavy, and
the once familiar surroundings of her grandmother's attic began to dissolve, replaced by an
unfamiliar landscape. It was as if she had stepped into another time altogether.

Confused and frightened, Lena stumbled back. The once quiet and peaceful room was now
bustling with people—dressed in tunics and flowing robes. A warm sun beat down on her, and in
the distance, she could hear the sounds of bustling crowds and the clinking of metal.

Lena couldn’t believe her eyes. She had somehow been transported to Ancient Egypt. Tall, stone
structures rose into the sky around her, and the magnificent Nile River shimmered in the
background. People walked by, some dragging carts, others selling goods in the marketplace.
She was caught between panic and awe, but the journal had been clear: Speak these words aloud,
and you will see what history has hidden. This was no dream—this was real. She was in the past.

Lena’s heart raced. She looked down at the journal in her hands, realizing that it was more than
just a book—it was a portal to the past. As she stood frozen in place, a voice broke her out of her
trance.

"Are you lost, young one?" an elderly man asked, his voice thick with a foreign accent.

Lena’s instincts told her to lie, to act like she belonged, but she couldn’t find the words. How
could she explain the inexplicable?
The man who had spoken to her was wearing fine linen robes, and his face was wise, lined with
age and experience. He smiled kindly at her as she stared back in confusion.

"Are you from the north?" he asked, squinting at her strange clothes. Lena realized her jeans and
T-shirt were completely out of place in this world. She didn’t even know what to say. She didn’t
even know how to explain where she came from.

"Uh, yes," she managed to reply, still trying to take in her surroundings. The ancient Egyptian
world seemed so real, so vivid. It was as if she had stepped inside a history book. The man
nodded as though he had expected such a vague answer.

"You should come with me. The sun is setting soon, and you do not want to be out here after
dark. The streets can be dangerous for someone who is... unfamiliar with the ways of the land."

Though Lena didn’t know this man, there was something trustworthy about him, so she decided
to follow. As they walked, the man introduced himself as Ammon, a merchant. He explained the
political tensions of the time: Pharaoh Cleopatra’s reign was in danger, and unrest was brewing
in the streets. “The struggle for power is constant,” Ammon said gravely, “but you, young one,
are not here by accident.”

The words struck Lena like a lightning bolt. Was this some sort of grand test or game? She
glanced down at the journal in her hand, and in the back of her mind, she wondered if she could
use this opportunity to change the course of history. She had learned about Cleopatra in history
class—her cunning, her diplomacy, and her relationships with powerful men like Julius Caesar
and Mark Antony. Could she meet her? Could she prevent Cleopatra’s fall from power?

But then, Lena hesitated. Could she really change history? What would the consequences be? If
she interfered, would the future be different? More importantly, should she interfere? Lena had
no way of knowing how fragile history was. One small change could alter everything.

Ammon led Lena into a modest home at the edge of the marketplace, where they were joined by
his wife, a woman with kind eyes who offered Lena a seat and a bowl of figs. But as Lena
accepted the food, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something much larger was at play. She
had come to the past by mere chance—but what was her true purpose here?
As the days passed, Lena found herself caught up in the daily rhythms of life in ancient Egypt.
She had no choice but to adapt—after all, she couldn’t simply go back to her old life. Ammon’s
family treated her with kindness, though Lena knew deep down that she didn’t belong here. She
tried to learn about the customs and the people, but her mind was always focused on the journal
and its potential power.

One day, Ammon came to her with urgent news. “Cleopatra is coming to the market today,” he
said, his voice filled with excitement. “We must go to the square. She will hold court.”

Lena’s heart skipped a beat. This was her chance to meet Cleopatra—perhaps even help her, or
learn something that would change the course of history. She quickly agreed, and they made
their way to the grand marketplace. As they approached, the crowd grew larger, and Lena’s
anxiety mounted. She had no idea what to expect, but she had come this far—how could she turn
back now?

When Cleopatra appeared, she was as regal and composed as Lena had read about in history
books. She walked past the crowd with a calm authority, her eyes sharp as she surveyed the
people before her. As she passed by, Lena instinctively stepped forward. The queen’s gaze met
hers for a brief moment, and something in her eyes made Lena pause. It was as though Cleopatra
could see through her, as though she knew she wasn’t from this time.

Lena’s breath caught in her throat. She suddenly realized that this was the moment of history.
She wasn’t meant to change anything—she was meant to witness it. Cleopatra, the woman who
had shaped an empire, stood in front of her, a living testament to the past. This moment in
history could not be altered.

In that instant, Lena knew she had to let go of the temptation to change things. She could learn
from the past, but she could never truly change it. The journal had brought her here to witness,
not to interfere.

With a heavy heart, Lena whispered the words from the journal again, and just as quickly as she
had arrived, she was back in her grandmother’s attic.

The journal lay in her hands, its pages blank once more. Lena looked around the familiar
surroundings of her home. She knew that nothing had changed, but she was different. She had
witnessed history up close, and that was enough.