Time Is a Framework, Not a Fabric to Bend

Albert Einstein's theory of relativity has long been interpreted as implying that time dilates and space contracts for observers in motion relative to one another. This interpretation, while consistent with the mathematical formulation of Lorentz transformations, has led to the belief that time is a physical entity subject to deformation. In this paper, I argue for an alternative interpretation: time is not a malleable substance but a mathematical framework that correlates events, including events across different frames of reference. I contend that the empirical validations of relativity theory can be coherently explained without invoking actual physical distortions of time and space. This interpretation not only preserves the mathematical integrity of relativity but also avoids metaphysical commitments about the nature of time.