[ WP ] A man invents time travel in order to find a cure for his sick wife and succeeds , only to find out he ca n't go back

*Congratulations, Dr Reilly. You are the fourteenth human to successfully travel forward in time. The year is 2118. Please take a moment to absorb this information before attempting to stand up. * 
 
 Jesus. I... I thought- 
 
 *I will pause for 10 seconds before continuing so as to allow you to ponder the significance of your accomplishment. * 
 
 The year is 2118? I was meant to travel to- Ah, Fuck! 
 
 *Dr Reilly, I explicitly advised you not to stand up. Your body is not yet ready for physical activity. Your action has been noted. * 
 
 Wait? You're studying me. 
 
 *Yes, but do not be nervous. You are not failing any sort of test. In fact, of the fourteen humans who have traveled forward in time, not one has heeded my warning. * 
 
 Ok. Sorry. 
 
 *There is no need to be sorry, Dr Reilly. It seems to be human nature. * 
 
 Who are you? 
 
 *The voice you are hearing is part of a program designed by the late Dr Rivera. This program greets newly arrived humans from the past. * 
 
 There have been 14 of us? But I was the first to invent time travel. Does that mean that they- 
 
 *This is incorrect. The first to invent time travel was Doctor Antonio Rivera. Born January 12, 1889 in Sevilla, Spain. Died June 18th 2118. * 
 
 Somebody born before 1900 traveled forward in time? That's impossible. We did n't have the technology back then. 
 
 *Your kind did have the technology, Dr Reilly. Dr Rivera developed it in the early 20th century and reached the year 2118. He never returned to his original time with the technology. * 
 
 So, I'm the fourteenth person to develop time travel? 
 
 *Precisely. * 
 
 Why am I in 2118? I'm supposed to be in 2213. 
 
 *That is the nature of this program. Dr Rivera designed this program as a type of `` intercept'' for those traveling forward in time. * 
 
 What do you mean? 
 
 *This program will not allow you to travel past the year 2118. * 
 
 Why not? 
 
 *Dr Rivera had many reasons for developing a program which disabled time machines. Chief among which-* 
 
 Wait! My machine is disabled? Does that mean I ca n't go back? 
 
 *Precisely. * 
 
 No! This ca n't happen! I need to go back! If I do n't go back to the year 2013 my wife is going to die! Do you understand me? 
 
 *Your wife is already dead, Dr Reilly. * 
 
 Shut your goddamn mouth! 
 
 *Fourteen out of fourteen time travelers all raised their voice at this program, failing to recognize the futility in yelling at a machine. * 
 
 I.... I'm sorry. 
 
 *There is no need to be sorry, Dr Reilly. It seems to be human nature. * 
 
 There has to be a way back. Why would Dr Rivera just trap himself in this year? 
 
 *Dr Rivera had motivations similar to yours. In the year 1918, his daughter was stricken with Spanish Influenza. To save her life, he traveled forward in time to the year 2118. In this year, he realized that the technology existed to save his daughter. Before returning, however, he realized that his actions had the potential to create a time paradox. Dr Rivera realized that his daughter's life was not worth the risk of compromising the universe as we know it. * 
 
 But it is n't guaranteed that it would do harm. I could go back with the technology. I could do so much more good. Think of how much better the future could be if we had access to this medical technology then. 
 
 *You are not concerned about mankind, Dr Reilly. Your concern is for your wife. * 
 
 Of course it is! I've dedicated my life to finding a way to fix her. 
 
 *You humans have a disproportionate sense of compassion. You would dedicate your life for one woman but, in the time you have conversed with this program, twenty-three different humans have died. Over a dozen of them from preventable causes. * 
 
 But... I ca n't let her die that way. 
 
 *If you were allowed to go back, you would risk every human life that has ever existed. Do you understand why this program exists? * 
 
 Yes. I... I'm sorry. 
 
 *There is no need to be sorry, Dr Reilly. It seems to be human nature. *
