The Experiment

Prologue

"I'm sorry, Ben. I didn't want to do this to you but you leave me with no choice. You're fired."

I sit there not knowing what to say. I stare at the person who has been my boss for twelve years now.

"You're kidding, right? Is this because of the experiments I proposed? If you would just read my report one more ti-" before I finish I hear a loud slam against the desk. Jerry, my boss squints his eyes and rubs the spot between his eyes at the bridge of his nose.

With a long and heavy sigh he tells me, "Ben, this plan you are proposing is crazy. There is no point for such research other than fascination and you've been so incessant about it that I just can't have you working here anymore. It's too much for all of us!" he turns to face a desk full of research from these past years. "You used to have such amazing passion and wonder for other types of subjects. You made great progress and change in this company. But this idea is just too far! We aren't making any profit right now and this is sure to destroy us!" the last couple lines are practically yelled and cause me to wince.

After more and more back and forth between us, I find myself staring up at the building that had led me to so many amazing discoveries. If only they could see what amazing things could happen if we just tried this experiment. The test subjects would have been difficult, sure, but I'm sure we could've found a way. 

As I made it over to my car and set my belongings in the passenger seat, the reality started to sink in. I slumped into the drivers seat and stared at my reflection in the windshield. I looked over to my box full of folders describing research on so many topics in the past. As I saw all of these and remembered all the memories along with them, the tears pooled in my eyes. I started laughing thinking how angry my wife was going to be. How would I explain all of this to her? 

I would not tell her about the proposed plan. This is what I decided as I pulled into the driveway making it back safely. As I walked in, Mary, my wife, was nowhere to be found. I quietly snuck up the stairs and went to my nightstand to tuck the research safely away. Later that evening Mary came in with some groceries. 

"Hi honey, how was work today?" She said with a smile that hid exhaustion and irritation.

"Daddy!" my little girl came running towards me on her three year old legs and I lifted her up to embrace in my arms. I looked over to see that my son was already being seated in his highchair for dinner. He smiled exuberantly with a smile only a young newborn could make. I smiled as I walked over to kiss him on the head.

"Honey?" I was awoken out of my trance as I looked to Mary, "you didn't answer my question earlier. How did work go?".

I wondered why she was pushing this subject so much but decided to treat it like another day. I didn't want to ruin this peaceful atmosphere going on. "It was great as always, darling. We are making great progress in our research." and that was the last peaceful moment our family ever dared to have.

That night after dinner, Mary went to go grab my medicine I take for aches in my body every night. Tranced by the peaceful atmosphere of my children, I had forgotten where exactly that medicine was kept. 

It had been a while since Mary had gone in the room so I yelled out a simple, "Mary, darling! Is everything ok?" The silence went on. With an oddly anxious feeling I decided to get up and go to see what was going on. Walking into the room I saw Mary's back at my nightstand and was about to call to her when the pit dropped straight into my stomach.

Ever so quietly, I suddenly hear a "what is this?". It was barely croaked out from her, but I would've known the response regardless. "What in the world is this, Ben?".

"You weren't supposed to see that." I respond just as quietly.

"Get out." 

I don't quite hear these words at first before she throws the folder at me, tears stricken down her face suddenly yelling, "GET OUT!".

I go to walk to her but she runs past me and heads for the kitchen. When I get in there I see her grabbing the phone and dialing a number. "Mary, who are you call-"

"Hello, my husband seems to have gone insane and is planning to hurt me and my children. I need someone to come down here and get him out of here!! My address is-" Things start to blur in my vision as I run to grab my research. They can't find this! I must find a way to continue my research. These are the thoughts I have as I grab my stuff and run out to my car to drive away. 

Mary is running after me now with a look of horror on her face because I have done something unforgivable and will never be able to atone for. I can't hear anything except for the loud sound of an engine and quiet crying as I drive away to an unknown destination.