Write a 1000-word short story featuring three distinct timelines: Past (2000), Present (2023), and Future (2050). The narrative structure must be non-linear. The protagonist in each timeline must be the same person at different ages, dealing with the consequences of a specific decision made in 2000. The story must converge at the end, revealing that the 'Future' timeline is actually a simulation running in the 'Present' attempting to prevent the original mistake. Use distinct sensory language for each era to anchor the reader.