Time Bride
by Gardner Dozois and Jack Dann
Shortly after turning eight, Marcy Meisner loses her childhood to an ever-present voice
from the future who (so he assures Marcy’s parents) wants to marry Marcy when she grows
up and has only Marcy’s best interests at heart.
Please let me explain, Mr. Meisner. I don’t want to marry Marcy now. I want to marry her in the future, ten years from now, when she’s
eighteen. That is, I believe, an acceptable age.