The Day Time Stood Still

On an ordinary Tuesday morning, the sun peeked over the horizon with its usual golden glow, yet something felt different. It wasn't immediately apparent, but as the town of Elmwood stirred from its slumber, a collective realization spread. The clocks had stopped.

Ruth, the town's librarian, was the first to notice. She had a habit of winding the grandfather clock at the library every morning, a ritual she inherited from her predecessors. As she reached out to start her day, she froze, eyes wide. The hands were stuck at 8:42. She checked her watch, her phone, even the old wall clock in her office — all the same.

Across…