Mich Me Michael

Part 4: Us

—I have my first white hair —said Mich proudly.

Every day he was more in sync with the original Michael, and that was proof of how much they had worked over the months. They were a dream team. Michael's experience and Mich's fresh, motivated mind generated new theories and solutions. Michael and Mich had achieved more in that short time together than Michael had in years alone. In a few months, they had generated experimental vaccines, which had to go through central lab protocols before being approved for official use. But let's ignore the few protocols that were truly respected in those times of crisis. What happened in other labs never came to light; these secrets were always well kept.

Sophie returned from her morning rounds. She no longer had as much time to visit the shelters; her mission was to communicate the progress and trials to the central lab, but she always found a detour to reach people. Even if it meant arriving much later and more tired each day. Mrs. Birgit always waited for her with a hot infusion and cookies she made herself with the ingredients Sophie got for her. She was the only one who had seen her cry. And although she spoke another language, she seemed to understand her better than anyone.

Mich and Michael analyzed the results from the Alpha lab that Sophie had brought that day. It was already dinnertime, and a letter accompanied the report. It was the first of many they received; perhaps this was the only one with good news.

—So? What does it say? —Sophie was excited and curious. The atmosphere at the central lab was good, and the board of directors greeted her happily every day—. Tell me already! —She blew on her reheated dinner before devouring it.

—Apparently, Karl is happy finally working in the central lab —said Michael, rubbing his temple. It was a headache to realize this by recognizing the pattern of mistakes Karl always made in his reports.

—How wonderful! —Sophie exclaimed.

—The results are good; they'll start working on a medicine to alleviate the symptoms —said Mich, hopeful.

—But we're still far from a vaccine —added Michael, not so optimistic.

—But maybe we can save some lives of those who get infected —insisted Mich with enthusiasm.

—This calls for a celebration! It's fantastic, Miches! —Sophie celebrated, tears filling her eyes—. Mrs. Birgit, bring the champagne!

Mrs. Birgit smiled with her, entered the kitchen, and returned with several bottles, mostly artisanal beer, others unknown and of dubious origin. That night, Mrs. Birgit stayed up a bit later than usual, left them the bottles, and kissed Sophie on the forehead. And for the first time, she didn't look at Mich and Michael with disgust and contempt. She went to sleep, leaving the "youngsters," as she called them, to celebrate in peace.

The night unfolded under a celebratory mantle, where every corner of the lab, usually somber and silent, now vibrated with the energy of an impromptu party. The dim lights, usually meant to illuminate meticulous experiments, now served as a beacon for a group of souls determined to find respite amidst the chaos.

As the hours passed, the central table transformed into a messy collage of half-filled glasses, overturned beer bottles with frothy contents lazily spilling over the cold metal, and a collection of mysterious blue bottles. Michael, Mich, and Sophie decided to embark on a peculiar contest: guessing what those blue bottles contained, tinted by the glow of the data screens surrounding them.

—Star liquor!—Sophie exclaimed between laughs, raising a bottle to the light, watching the liquid inside sparkle. 

Mich played along, suggesting with a mischievous twinkle in his eyes,