In a quiet village deep in the countryside, where even the rustling of leaves seemed loud against the stillness, lived Tom, a brilliant but often overlooked scientist. Though Tom had big dreams, he carried the weight of being constantly neglected by his father.

From an early age, Tom’s intelligence had been obvious to everyone. He excelled in his studies, built creative projects and amazed teachers with his ideas. But at home, things were very different. His father rarely praised him. Instead, his attention always leaned toward Tom’s younger brother.

Once, when Tom built a model wind turbine for a school science competition and won an award, he came home expecting to see his father proud. Instead, his father turned his focus on comforting Tom’s brother, who had failed several subjects.

“Your brother needs me more right now,” his father said, justifying his choice.

The shiny award was pushed into a corner, gathering dust, while Tom stood in silence, his pride and joy fading into disappointment. Nobody noticed the hurt on his face.

As he grew older, Tom could no longer bear the constant neglect. He decided to leave home and chose a life of solitude in the countryside outside Berlin. There, living with his wife, he dedicated himself entirely to science. Despite Tom’s isolation, his experiments flourished. Tom worked tirelessly, hoping that one day his achievements would be so significant that even his father would finally have to acknowledge him.

One evening, while returning from a nearby town, Tom noticed something unusual. The sky was getting dark when he caught sight of a faint glow from a lake nearby. The shimmering light looked mysterious, as if hiding countless secrets. Over the next few days, whenever he passed the same spot, his curiosity grew stronger. Eventually, he brought his equipment to investigate and discovered dangerous levels of radiation around the lake. Fearing the risk, he decided against exploring further, though the glowing water remained in his thoughts.

Some days later, while fishing by a river close to the lake, Tom accidentally cut his hand. The cut was deep and drops of blood fell into the river. The current carried it down toward the glowing lake. Almost instantly, the mysterious light of the lake brightened intensely, as though reacting to his presence, pulling him in with invisible hands.

Tom felt a strong urge to dive into the water. For a few moments, he wrestled with the temptation. Finally, unable to resist any longer, he decided to give in.

He dove into the glowing water. As he swam deeper, a strange force seemed to guide him. Suddenly, he saw what looked like a portal at the bottom of the lake. Before he could rethink his decision, the pull of the water dragged him inside.

Once on the other side, Tom realised he had travelled into the past. His surroundings looked familiar — he was near his childhood home. The opportunity to rewrite his story and finally win his father’s approval filled his mind.

As he walked toward the house, an elderly man approached him.

“Wait,” the man said, pulling him aside. “I’ve been expecting to see someone come through that portal one day.”

The man introduced himself as Karl, a researcher who had spent years studying the strange portal. Karl shared his own story — he had lost a son years ago, and if given the chance, he said, the only thing he would want was to tell his son how much he loved him.

When Tom told Karl about wanting to meet his father and receive some appreciation from him, Karl also warned Tom of the grave dangers of interfering with the past.

“Changing even a small event can create consequences you cannot imagine,” he explained.

Together, the two began working to stabilise the portal, preparing to send Tom back to his own time. The time Tom spent with Karl were strangely comforting. In Karl’s guidance and kindness, Tom felt the warmth he had longed for from his own father.

When their work on the portal was complete, Karl smiled, patted Tom on the shoulder, and said, “Brilliant work, son.”

Those words, simple yet heartfelt, struck deep. For the first time, Tom felt the validation he had craved his whole life. At that moment, he realised he didn’t need to risk rewriting the past — what he needed was to move forward.

As if waiting for Tom to make peace with his past, the portal opened again, ready to return him to his own time. Tom hugged Karl tightly, sensing in him the father figure he never had. Then, with a heavy heart but newfound peace, he stepped back through the glowing light.

When Tom surfaced from the lake, it was as if no time had passed at all. Life resumed as normal. He chose not to share his unbelievable experience with his wife, but the memory stayed with him.

Later when Tom’s son was born, holding the baby in his arms, Tom silently made a promise. He would never let his child feel the same emptiness he had carried all his life. He would be present, loving and supportive — the kind of father he had always wished for.

At last, Tom had found his purpose, not in winning over his father, but in becoming the father he never had.

Published in Dawn, Young World, August 23rd, 2025