Today is Wednesday. Raining all day. Slow. Gloomy. Bleak. Unfullfilled.
Today someone died. Someone I know passed away. Could be yesterday. Could be this morning.
I don’t know him personally, except for the fact that I might be the last person see him walking alive on campus.
Monday September 28th, 2015. 9:07 PM. Goldenson Building. Room 323.
I ran to the microscope room before I left work, just to have a quick look at my sample——The technician told me earlier that she’d have it ready late afternoon. The sign-up sheet for the microscope was open after 4 and I didn’t bother to book my time since it’s night time. But I was not surprised to see the red indication light was on when I got there at 9:07 —— there’s always people like me who are too lazy to sign up.
I knocked on the door. A murmur from inside. I pushed the door open. There he was, working on a delicate specimen——working 5 hours straight from 4, as the technician later told me. I didn’t ask when he’d be done. He didn’t answer. I mumbled and backed out. <i’ll do=”” it=”” tomorrow=””>.Before the door was completely shut, I had a glimpse on the screen. He had captured an still image of the sample. It was blurry and a bit out of focus.
And that was it. The last sight of him at work. He got home later that day. Didn’t show up at his microscope time on Tuesday——the first time in the 20 years since the technician has been here. She called him at home. There was no answer. He lived alone. And today, his neighbour found him dead in front of the computer. An unfinished email. Unsent.
I’ve seen him a few times before at the facility. Preparing samples with his reading glasses on. Arguing bluntly with the technician. But most of the times, imaging silently in the microscope room with his back to everybody.
On the wall right outside the room are a few pieces of news reports about him. A veteran. A scientist. Gold medal.
Also on the wall are some pictures of his with the people working at the microscope facility. <that’s his=”” 80=”” years=”” old=”” birthday=””><that’s 90=””><96, this past summer>.
After today’s imaging session and finishing talking to technician, I walked straight back home. Early afternoon. I was drenched. Didn’t do my laundry. Didn’t wash my car. And caught myself a cold.</that’s></that’s></i’ll>
