Conditional Reality

The time master came to our house. We recognized him by his red and black cape. We asked him to leave, but he said he had official business. We asked him what business, but he evaded the question. We could do nothing to make him go away. He walked through our house, pausing briefly at each room, then left. That afternoon the clocks began running backwards. We ate our breakfast and felt instantly hungry. We woke from sleep so tired we could barely stand. The time master laughed. We could hear him there between our ears, deep in our skulls.