Forward or back, the time machine wasn't 

   truly a time machine, it could merely

   bring you to a past or future present. 

Time machines travel through time, not through space.

   To find our old favorite diner, I first 

   had to visit the new one in its place.

“I’d like to go back and…” before I say

   “try it over again,” I waver, for fear 

   I'd do it a second time the same way. 

I’ll revisit the things that could have gone wrong 

   but didn't; leapfrog ten years when waiting

   to learn from the same mistakes takes too long.

I’ll give it all up to go back again;

   then, I’ll have nothing, not even my wish 

   to give it all up to go back again.