Clare Abshire

Grew Up… in South Haven, Michigan. It’s a small, beautiful town. Clare was mostly raised by the housekeeper, Etta, and rarely saw her mother. Since she was six years old, Clare’s had a mysterious best friend who appears in the forest on the edge of her parent’s property.

Living… in Chicago, in the early nineties.

Profession… artist. Clare works with paper, creating sculptures. She explains, “I like to do things directly, touch the textures, see the colors.” Much of her work revolves around birds.

Interests… art and Henry. Henry is her boyfriend and childhood best friend, but he’s often gone. When he is around, she loves spending time with him. Other than that, she loves to work on her art, read, and listen to music.

Relationship Status… complicated. Clare and Henry love each other. Sadly, he has a disorder that causes him to time travel randomly. Henry cannot control it, and is often gone. Clare has loved him since she was a little girl, but being with him is difficult. She says, “It's hard being left behind. I wait for Henry, not knowing where he is, wondering if he's okay. It's hard to be the one who stays."

Challenge… dealing with time. Understandably, time traveling has put a strain on their relationship. Clare remembers things about older Henry that he doesn’t yet know, and Henry knows things about their future that Clare wishes weren’t decided yet. She wants to stay with him, but it’s not an easy task. More often than not, she is alone.

Personality… loyal, creative, and intelligent. Clare is a brilliant artist, with an appreciation for the beauty in life. She is committed to Henry, but she feels his absences deeply. Occasionally she buries herself in her work to escape the feeling of inevitability that plagues their lives.