In reality, time doesn't pass; we pass. Time itself is invariant. It just is. Therefore, past and future aren't separate locations, the way New York and Paris are separate locations. And since the past isn't a location, you can't travel to it.
In Michael Crichton's book "Timeline," the author presents a thought-provoking perspective on the nature of time. He argues that time is not something that flows independently; rather, it is a constant that simply exists. Our experience of time's passage is a reflection of our own movement through it, rather than an indication that time itself is changing.
Crichton further illustrates that the past and future should not be viewed as distinct places that can be visited, akin to geographical locations like New York and Paris. Instead, they are integrated into our experience without being tangible destinations. This insight challenges conventional notions about time travel, emphasizing that if the past cannot be thought of as a physical place, then traveling back to it is impossible.