Interlude 1 - Albert
The Earth, 2043. University of New South Wales. In the building of the Applied Science department...
- Good job, Albert, you have graduated. Do you have any plans for the future?
- I am not sure... Maybe I would just work here. I feel like contributing back to this university, and this department.
It was the graduation day of this batch of students. The building was decorated with a vibrancy that strayed from the normally dull atmosphere of a science building. In the grand hall, a few hundred students sat neatly in rows, while the professors and the staff of the department were making lengthy speeches.
Albert was among the graduates. Like any other graduate, he was also uncertain about his future. However, unlike the other graduates who were in a state of partial to complete loss of direction, Albert had something in mind. He wanted to continue working in the department, either as a student or a researcher.
The girl next to him held his hands tightly. She made a blooming smile.
- Every decision of yours is a good one. I respect any of them.
- Thanks, Mileva.
The girl was also a graduate of the University of New South Wales, but not from the applied science department. She was a social science major, but just for today, she wanted to be with Albert to celebrate his graduation.
After the boring opening speeches about the feelings of the professors and staff, about the journey with their students in the past few years, and lots of heartwarming blessings and good luck, there came performances and other activities. Of course, except for the spectacular scientific magic tricks, the performing arts were just mild. Cannot expect any more from the building with all nerds with brains but no artistic creativity.
While there were cheers, applauses and praises, somewhere among the energetic crowds cheering for their classmates, coursemates, or whatever way you want to refer to them, there were two bright smiles. Albert and Mileva were enjoying the moment together.
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The Earth, 2045,
After the years that flashed through like a dream, the pair found themselves already walking along the aisle, to the cheers of everyone. The bells rang delightfully.
After that graduation day, Albert decided to continue working at his applied science department. He travelled around the world for the first year, trying to understand himself, yet after all rational decisions, his feet once again stepped on the gate of the University of New South Wales. As an alumnus with a good reputation back in his undergraduate days, he was accepted as an assistant professor and a full-time researcher.
Of course, Mileva also travelled with him. Young and energetic, they set their feet in many countries, experiencing all kinds of cultures and stuff. They engaged in every activity, from extreme rock climbing and skiing to sunbathing on a peaceful beach and enjoying the scenery, not minding anything. The love bloomed and slowly built up.
The moment they went back to Australia, there was only one decision that they could think of.
And here we were.
- Will you have this woman to be your wife, to live together in holy marriage? Will you love her, comfort her, honour her, and keep her in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to her as long as you both shall live? - The priest recited the all-time favourite marriage vow.
- Yes, I do. - And following the vow, there is only one answer. An answer for life.
The diamond ring glowed in the lighting of the church. It was a product of the department, affordable but reliable. Albert put the ring carefully into Mileva's finger.
The moment the ring nicely resided on Mileva's fingers, the church organ started playing, and the wind chimes started tingling. A bond was forged.
Long did Albert know that what lay ahead of them was pure agony. Something had already manifested.
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The Earth, 2047,
How time flew. The little family welcomed the first member a year ago. An adorable baby boy.
At the same time, the applied science department of the university also welcomed a new member.
- Thanks everyone for gathering here. So, meet Issac. He is an undergraduate from the University of Tokyo. Half-Japanese, half-Western. In the latest exchange programme between the schools, he will have his internship and finish his degree here, and if possible, he will work here as a fellow researcher.
In front of Albert, there was a person slightly smaller than him. Albert had visited Japan during his world trip and had passed through Issac's university before. If any chance, he might have or might have not seen him.
Issac bowed and greeted everyone respectfully.
Judged by his looks and behaviour so far, Issac seemed only about twenty-two or -three years old. In some sense, he would be a junior, but in other senses, Issac would be a fellow researcher. The department was getting more and more diverse.
The head of the department approached Issac, who looked a bit afraid. He shook Issac's hands.
- Haha, just drop this formal act. We are all friends at this point.
He made a friendly slap on Issac's shoulder. The atmosphere loosened a bit.
After that, the other members also lined up and took turns shaking Issac's hands. He seemed to have gained some confidence thanks to the hospitality of the department.
The last one is Albert. As the last person in the room, he stepped forward. He made a firm hand grip with Issac, a necessary etiquette when meeting people, and shook.
- Hi, I am Albert. Nice to have you here.
- Hi. It is an honour to work with you.
This meeting, although having minimal significance to the story, also signified the imminent hardships the department would go through.
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The Earth, 2049.
What had happened? Why everything came to this?
Albert was questioning himself and everything that he knew. In front of him was a divorce document, already signed by Mileva.
- Why, darling? What have I done wrongly? We can always negotiate...
Albert was trying to resolve the tense situation, just to be cut off very abruptly by Mileva, who was very determined.
- Everything is wrong. Everything!
A shout that pierced through Albert's heart more deeply than any kind of knife could do. He still did not understand.
- I have found another man, who is better, richer, more talented, blah, blah, blah... And what do you have here? Nothing. Your salary barely maintains our necessities. I just cannot...
Albert suddenly understood. It was not that Mileva was a gold digger. He could fully understand that after the interactions with her for the last few years. But what has resulted in this change?
There was a huge discrepancy.
But, time was not on his side. He also did not want to exaggerate things. To win the whole battle, he needed to put his sadness aside. Just for this battle only, he would allow things to play.
Albert regained his composure. He took the pen and signed the document.
Mileva put the document into a file. With her already-packed luggage, she left the house.
- I would leave the kid to you. Now, all the best for your future.
The traces of the woman slowly shrank and vanished in the air.
His son was still at school, so he was silently grateful that his son was not here to see the whole thing. Even Albert could not believe what just happened. Everything progressed at lightspeed. Just a few days ago, the family was still having fun together.
Anyway, with utmost resolution, Albert would unveil everything. He would restore what should have been. He would save Mileva from anything that made her end up with that rushing decision.
- Hopefully, I am not delusional. - Albert touched his face and tried to encourage himself.
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The Earth, 2050.
Tragedies came in a chain.
Albert stood in front of the massacre, which had been segregated by the police forces. Corpses covered with white bags queued neatly in rows and columns. The police, the paramedics and the other units were running around, trying to confirm the situation and check for any survivors.
The place where his feet were rooted was the kindergarten of his son.
Just a few minutes ago, as he was working in his lab, the radio broadcasted a piece of urgent news. A mass shooting was detected, and residents nearby were advised to lock their homes tightly in case of the culprit entered their homes.
His equipment apparatus dropped and shattered into pieces upon contact with the ground, as soon as the location of the shooting was announced.
Rushing his way to the kindergarten, his heart broke into pieces, maybe literally. He could not contain the extreme emotion. Other parents of the unfortunate children had also gathered there.
- Excuse me, sir. Are there any survivors? I want to see my son... - Albert tried to grab the uniform of a policeman standing nearby.
He was returned with no response. He immediately understood that the policeman also did not want to inform him...
... that everyone was killed.
First, his wife. Now, his only child. Was this a sinister prank by someone?
Albert tried to convince himself that this was just a dream and that he would wake up. But no matter how he hit himself, the pain that transcended his physical senses told him that everything is so real.
His faith in humanity had dropped, maybe not to zero, but it could not be any lower. All logical reasoning failed in face of an emotional surge.
After the incident, the department of applied science has not seen him for a while.