Future Lost

3

That’s another thing we saw in the future. In thirty years, Adam, Chris, and I will start a biotech company called Future Visions that will provide the world with cutting-edge technology, the cure for cancer and other diseases, and make us all rich at the same time. Now the three of us keep that goal in sight. The promise of our shared destiny gives us hope. Together, we’re going to change the world for the better.

Zahra and Paige arrive next with a ton of food from the Persian restaurant Zahra’s cousin owns. Paige looks at baby photos on Chris’s phone, cooing about how big Michael is getting, while Zahra plies Max with dog treats. For a few minutes we chat about our different college classes, before Ken shows up at the door. He’s a half-Japanese guy with short black hair, kind eyes, and a blue T-shirt that reads, “All the good chemistry jokes argon.”

“Ken!” Paige grabs him in an exuberant hug. “I haven’t seen you in forever!”

Their hug lasts a few seconds beyond friendly, like they can’t stand to let go of each other. When they finally break apart, his face is flushed and he rubs the back of his neck. “Sorry. I’ve been working in the lab a lot these days.”

“It’s so good to see you.” She takes his hand and leads him to the couch. “I have to tell you what happened in my class the other day.”

Once they’re on the couch and lost in conversation, Zahra rolls her eyes. “I need to mash their faces together and make them kiss already.”

Chris crosses his arms, leaning back against my kitchen counter. “Didn’t Paige dump her loser boyfriend?”

“Yeah, she did. But she’s oblivious to how Ken feels about her, and he’s too shy to tell her. They’re hopeless.”

I shake my head. “I thought for sure they’d be dating by now.”

After Paige discovered that her boyfriend was going to grow into a shady Congressman and a cheating husband, she dumped him and swore to only date nice guys from then on. Ken, on the other hand, learned he was going to die at age thirty-eight from Huntington’s disease, which he inherited from his mother. He didn’t want to suffer the same trauma she’s enduring now and tried to end his life, knowing Aether would pay his parents a hefty compensation fee. I managed to convince him not to do it and insisted there was still time to change his fate. Now, with Adam’s help, he hopes to create a cure for Huntington’s disease someday.

Zahra looks over at the two of them with a frown. “Sometimes I think about saying something to Paige, but I don’t know if that’s overstepping, and I’ve been so busy with my brother lately…”

“How’s he doing?” I ask. Zahra’s future revealed that her brother’s gambling addiction would lead to him being murdered by the Russian mafia. In different timelines we saw the Zahra of the future try to help him by paying off his debts, but it never worked out well. She soon realized the only solution was to get him help in the present before he got involved with the Russians.

“He got out of rehab last week, and he seems to be doing okay,” Zahra says. “Who knows if it will stick, but at least I tried. I’m keeping an eye on him to make sure he stays out of trouble.”

“I’m glad he’s doing better.” I check my watch. 7:14. Adam should be home by now. Dammit.

Chris’s eyes follow my movement. “Where’s Adam?”

“I don’t know. He must be running late.” I pull out my phone but don’t have any texts from him. I send one off: Where are you?

Zahra and Chris start talking about computer stuff, and I tune them out while I make sure everyone has drinks and something to snack on. Five minutes later, Adam texts me back. Sorry. Leaving the lab now.

“Adam’s on his way,” I tell the others, trying to hide the annoyance in my voice. Everyone gives me a long look, so I know I’m not successful.

“Is everything okay?” Zahra asks.

“Yeah.” I take a long drink of water, clutching the glass. “He’s been working on the cure nonstop, and I guess he lost track of time.” The truth is, I barely see Adam these days, even though he lives with me now. I try to give him space because his work is important, but I can’t believe he’d forget tonight, of all nights.

“Ken’s the same way these days.” Paige bumps his side with her shoulder. “Always working in the lab with Adam.”

Ken shoves his hands in his jeans and looks down. “Not always. Today I had class and then took my mom to a doctor’s appointment.”

Paige lightly touches his arm. “I don’t want you and Adam to get burned out. That’s all.”

“We won’t. We’re so close to a breakthrough. Just a few more days, and we’ll have it. And once the cancer cure is done, I might be able to use the research to develop a cure for Huntington’s too.” Ken’s eyes light up when he talks about their work, but then his face drops. “Although Adam, he’s…”

When he doesn’t go on, Chris asks, “He’s what?”

“He’s been kind of…off lately.”

My throat seems to close up. “What do you mean, off?”

Ken’s eyes snap to mine, but then he glances at our friends and his mouth opens and closes. He shrugs and forces a laugh. “Eh, it’s nothing. He probably needs more sleep.”

There’s obviously more to it, but he seems uncomfortable talking about it in front of the others. I make myself smile, while inside I’m screaming at him to tell me what he knows. “That must be it. I’ll talk to him about it.”

Paige seems to sense we need a topic change and starts telling the others about our weekly shooting practice. I slip into the kitchen alone and take a moment to lean against the fridge, closing my eyes and breathing in and out until I’m calm again.