Chemistry
Today’s post is based on a writing prompt I shared in a previous Daily Drafts & Dialogues post. Keep reading to see what I wrote, and to access more writing prompts.
What I wrote below is based on the following writing prompt: Write a scene that includes or refers to chemistry in some way— literal chemistry, figurative chemistry, or both.
Chemistry
At thirty-two, Fiona believed she was immune to feeling adolescent hormones raging in her gut. Some might claim she was experiencing ‘butterflies’ at the mere sight of her new lab partner, Nick, and say it was romantic, these new sensations she was experiencing.
But Fiona was certain she had simply developed a stomach condition of some sort that made her want to vomit frequently and tried to dispel any indication that she might be coming down with something incurable. Heaven, forbid! All that kale and quinoa consumed over the years, for naught?!
Fiona also knew that it was only a matter of time until she was able to determine exactly what it was, this developing condition of hers. Because she was a scientist. And that was her job, to figure difficult things out. Plus, she already knew that it must have something to do with Nick, even if it wasn’t what her auntie had suggested it was: a love bug. How ridiculous! There is no such thing. And she was thirty-two not twelve, for goodness’ sake. Still, Nick was the only consistent variable Fiona had detected so far, so there was that fact to contend with.
Every time Nick handed her a new formula to test or adjusted her Bunsen burner or shared his fries at lunch or sat opposite her as they analyzed their findings over mint tea at the end of each day, she felt weak and tumultuous inside, but also strong and formidable somehow. It was odd. They had only worked together for a few months but already had their own unspoken language and understanding of life, both inside and outside the confines of the lab.
Fiona wasn't about to insist on trading lab partners either, regardless of her developing illness, because she and Nick had made impressive inroads in very little time. Their recent discoveries were literally life-changing and award-worthy. So, she had to admit that the department had appropriately paired them together, as if they were a newly discovered covalent bond, bonded by their chemistry. As she knew, without Nick as her partner, their discoveries would never have been made at all. Not to mention, she would regret all the discoveries they had yet to make.
Still, Fiona felt she needed to warn Nick of her recurring symptoms lest he contract her illness too. There was no point in permitting them both to get sick. So, she did. She told him all her symptoms, held nothing back. And he laughed. Loudly. Which took her completely off guard and made her a bit angry at first. He had never laughed at her before.
But then Nick placed his hand on hers, which was on a short stack of warm just-printed lab paperwork, and said he understood and felt all the same things she did. And that was that. Nothing else had to be said, until the day…
[Write what comes next, then share what you come up with in a comment or chat thread below.]
I might revise, edit, or add to this draft in the future. Stay tuned.
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© All Rights Reserved by K.E. Creighton; Creighton’s Compositions LLC. The above work is a piece of fiction. While, as in all fiction, the literary perceptions and insights are based on experience, all names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
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