New Feelings

The Man Who Delayed Death

I met a man. A brilliant one. Not of renown but of vast knowledge. He used to be a researcher for multiple medical companies. Helped create drugs that saved many.

But that was not all he knew. No. Art, technology - his curiosity unbounded. He believed the only thing limiting us is ourselves. We put restrictions on what we can or cannot do. How would we know if we didn't try? In all of eternity, he was the only one that held me from doing my job.

One day, I presented myself at the doorstep. A medical rep that was searching for advice on the latest drug created at the time.

"Good day! Mr William Cato? My name is Sam Thaed. I work for Heavenly Meds Inc. My employer is researching a drug with an easy chemical change that can be adapted to target different forms of cancer. I was wondering: Do you have a moment to spare?"

Standing at the door was a hunched-back man, 2 heads shorter than me—thick-framed glasses on his big, snub nose. The wrinkled face held a smile from his thin, dry mouth, surrounded by a heavy silver stubble.

"Hello to you too, young fella!" he answered with a raspy voice.

"Come on now, don't just stand there. Come inside." He beckoned me with a wave of his hand.

"If you could close the door behind you, please."

He turned away from me, a cane in his left hand holding his weight, as he limped towards one of the big chairs in the middle of the living room. I followed suit, observing the spaciousness of the area. Bookshelves on each wall, enclosing the reading area in the centre, a two-seat sofa and a couple of armchairs surrounding a small coffee table.

"Well, it seems you are a curious one, aren't you, young fella?" he let out a small giggle as I stopped in my tracks, analysing the volume of books on his shelves, title by title, cover by cover.

"Ah, excuse me, I was just attracted towards your books. Such a variety of titles, and volumes, some even out of circulation, some seem even ancient. It's just amazing. One of the biggest collections I've ever seen recently." I said as I sat on the dusty sofa, facing him.

He glanced at me with his deep-set brown eyes, arms resting on the cane he held between his legs.

"You seem like an honest and curious fella. Before we get to it, tell me, what caught your eye? I saw you pause on the third shelf of my second bookcase on the left. Is it the Greek third print of the Hippocratic Works from 1890? While I know that book by heart, I felt it was a nicer read in the maternal language of the father of medicine rather than English. Plus, I practised my Greek. Hahaha..." he ended with a laugh.

"How did you know, sir? I have read the modern print, but I'm happy to see the old, dusty books. It's something about their smell, texture and feel of them. Medicine has always been one of my favourite fields to read about. Just the history and its evolution... It's just amazing." I responded, after my small shock at the accuracy of his prediction.

"Really? Well, you're going to like this bookshelf." he said, rising from his chair, grasping his cane tightly as he slowly walked towards the end of the room.

Stopping in his tracks, he looked at me, saying:

"Well... Are you coming?"

"Ah, yes..." I automatically moved towards the man, his excitement of sharing the works that he held drawing me in.

Before I knew it, the presentation transformed into a deep discussion of medicine, art, technology, and philosophy. A man of my own heart. That afternoon turned into night, the night into another day. Day into a week, a week into the year. A year into years. My other presentations were continuing my job, as my consciousness was profoundly engaged with this man. Before I could realise it, it was already close to 5 years since he was supposed to pass.

I had before held such discussions with men of similar minds, but they were always after the passing. Indeed many were engaging people, but none managed to do what this man did. The one who fed on my curiosity... On my boredom... Making my days less sad. He enthraled me with each word, book and subject discussed. The only man...

... to delay death.