A Fine Specimen

I placed the next slide containing the specimen under the lens, concurrently adjusting the optics. “I don’t know about this one either, Sam. They’re not propagating like they used to.”

I took off my glasses, and rubbed my eyes with my forefingers. The clock read 7:00 pm, and the assistants had already shed their lab coats for the day. I reached into the refrigerator for a bottle of water, finding it frozen and bloated. I touched my forehead with it briefly, then set it directly on the counter next to the microscope. The “no food and drinks” sign on the door mocked my basic human needs, yet I somehow managed to satisfy them. 

Sam walked to her locker, and removed her lab coat. “I can’t stay here much longer,” she stated. “My husband doesn’t know how to cook, and the kids will go hungry if I leave them alone with him for another hour.” She put on her black leather jacket and walked towards the door, opening it wide. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I observed her closely, honing in on her stride as she walked out of the laboratory. Her hips swayed back and forth as her balance pivoted from one heeled bootie to another. She closed the door behind her, and I sighed deeply. That image would remain in my head for a while. I put my glasses back on, and picked up the next slide. The cells were moving again and dividing, though at a snail’s pace. I picked up the next one, observing the same phenomenon, though slightly faster than before. The mirror in front of me reflected my confusion, even as I quickly shuffled through the remainder of the specimens. Last night, we had gone out for pizza and drinks, ending up at my place afterwards. We both made it into work this morning on time, sharing our excuses for being late to our husbands over coffee before clocking in. Hers were always better than mine. My coy smile was plastered over my face as I viewed the final specimen for the day. 

“Oh, wow!” My right eye caught the display of light and action of the cells on the glass in front of me. They were vibrating and emitting a heat-generated glow that could only be seen on close evaluation. I watched the cells divide, then perform a dance around each other. They briefly stopped to rest, then continued to produce replicas of themselves. The distinct yellow glow subsided, then flared as they danced, until the propagation ground to a halt. I looked away from the microscope, writing in my notes these latest findings. 

A car honked from outside the lab window, causing me to glance up at the clock. I looked outside, and saw Sam sitting in her black convertible with the top down. I opened the window to get a better look at her. She waved and shouted to me, “Turns out no one’s home. He apparently went to his mother’s for dinner, and is staying overnight there with the boys. Still working hard up there?” She squinted as she made eye contact with me from a distance.

“I think I’m at a good stopping point.”

She smiled at me. “Maybe tonight we can eat at my place.”

I smiled back at her. “I’ll meet you downstairs in five minutes.” I closed and locked the window. After removing my white coat, I shoved the specimen samples into the refrigerator, along with the half-defrosted water bottle. I turned off the light, and closed the door behind me. ⚢