Creatures of God

One More Thing

"Dr. Elliot! May we have a word with you?"

Elliot stopped his hurried exit, and turned around at the call of his name.

Uh, oh, he thought.

It was Dr. Tomas and Dr. Wilem, interrupting Elliot and his preparation for the Center's evacuation.

"We're so sorry to hear about the loss of your docent," Dr. Wilem began.

"Uh, y-yes, thank you, Sir," Elliot stuttered. He bit his lower lip and looked down at his feet.

"How are you holding up? Is there anything we can do for you? You've been Dr. Berman's understudy for several years now, but I'm sure it isn't easy stepping into his shoes."

"No, Sir," Elliot said, clearing his throat. "It isn't."

"Well, we all know you'll do just fine. You'll just be starting a little earlier than expected."

Elliot squinted one eye. "Sir?"

"What? Didn't Berman tell you of his plans for you after graduation?"

"N-no, he didn't."

"No? Well, I'm sorry you're only finding this out now, under the circumstances. As you know, Dr. Berman was never the best communicator. A bit of a scatter-brain. Brilliant, of course, but always thinking, always preoccupied."

"Sir?" Elliot said.

"Well, we've always wanted you to join our staff here at Anderson," Dr. Wilem said.

"Oh, th-thank you, Sir..." Elliot stammered. He hesitated, "... but I-I don't think the Professor was planning to offer me a post-graduate position."

Dr. Tomas frowned.

"He told me," Elliot continued, "that I should consider my other options."

There was pause in the conversation.

"It's because he didn't want you to settle for a life not of your liking."

Elliot wrinkled his forehead. "I-I don't understand... "

Dr. Tomas paused. "It's difficult. He knew Pathology was not of your passion, and I think he felt your father would have wanted you to have a say in the matter."

"But, Sir, I-I didn't have a father."

"Of course you did! What you mean is, you don't remember your father. You were too young at the time, but your father used to be good friends with Dr. Berman."

Elliot's mouth hung open.

"They were," Dr. Tomas reminisced, "the best of friends." He paused.

Elliot tilted his head.

"W-what happened to my father?"

Dr. Tomas stopped to consider.

"Your mother," Dr. Tomas paused, "died shortly after your birth, and your father never really recovered from that."

The silence in the room was like a dense fog.

"Your father was an oncologist," Dr. Tomas went on, "a cancer specialist. He and Berman worked together, so it was no wonder the two of them became such good friends." He paused again. "I'm surprised Dr. Berman hadn't told you some of this already."

"No, he hadn't."

Dr. Tomas was tight-lipped for a second.

"Dr. Berman wasn't always comfortable being your guardian. Life can be complex sometimes, and ironic in a way. I think Berman sometimes felt that he was not qualified to be your guardian, but perhaps he also felt that there was no other option either."