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The cells were a hive of frenzied activity—membranes pulsating, organelles swelling and swirling.
This was strange, uncharted territory. There was no way to know if the bizarre change would alter the organisms in a beneficial manner.
Quickly and carefully, I entered a sample into the spectrometer.
I held my breath as the machine separated and analyzed the molecules. The minutes passed at an agonizingly slow rate as I waited for the results to populate.
Chances were that no significant differences would show. Chances were equally as likely for a negative result as a positive.
Whatever happened, I would learn something.
After a moment that felt much too long, the results came in—nearly a two percent increase in inorganic consumption.
It was more than I had dared to hope for.
I leapt for my notebook, scribbling stream-of-consciousness notes on the next steps to take. The Biotabloom Dynamics deal was within reach, the planet's garbage problems closer than ever to being solved. All because of today’s hard-earned breakthrough, inspired entirely by Layana.
I was seeing everything differently now because of her. She inspired me. She’d changed me, for the better.
Tonight, we’d celebrate. Whether she was ready or not, I’d take the leap and tell her exactly how I felt. She was worth any risk.
Tonight, I’d tell her I loved her.
THIRTY-FIVE
LAYANA
I strolled into the front door of my apartment complex with a weird mix of thoughts pinging through my head. Harold begrudgingly waited out in his car, guarding my newly acquired Criss Cross waffle chips. Nothing against Harold, and I felt bad leaving him outside. But it was one thing letting Gabriel into my private space, another entirely to let in a complete stranger.
I longed to be reunited with my laptop, and I needed to get some quiet alone time in my apartment to do actual writing. This time it wouldn’t just be journaling, but less personal content for my blog.
I stopped at my mailbox and opened the little door. My phone dinged in my pocket. I pulled it out and found a new text from Gabriel.
Gabriel: If you don’t already have plans, I’d like you to join me for dinner at seven.
Gabriel: Do you have any allergies?
Me: penicillin
I could practically hearhim sighing from across the city. I grinned at the screen.
Gabriel: I will tell the chef not to include antibiotics in the entrée. Does that mean you will join me?
Me: I’ll have to check my calendar
Me: Yep, I’m free
Me: We could try again at Mellifluous. Maybe this time I won’t get ambushed in the bathroom
Gabriel: ?
Me: I’ll tell you all about it later. Can we go?
Gabriel: Of course. I look forward to seeing you then, Layana.
Me: Samesies
I shovedmy phone back into my pocket and grabbed the junk piled in my mailbox, locked the door, and twisted on my heel.
