The Glassmaker’s Promise

In a forgotten town, a glassmaker named Rian crafted windows that shimmered like mirrors but reflected what could have been.

A widow saw herself holding her late husband’s hand again. A child saw the parent they’d never met. People traveled miles to see their lost futures — and left in tears.

But Rian never looked into the glass himself. One night, curiosity overcame him. In the reflection, he saw himself — older, smiling, surrounded by laughter.

The climax: He reached out to touch the image. The glass cracked. In the morning, the workshop was empty, save for one new pane glowing faintly in the dawn — showing a man still working, somewhere far beyond the present.