Chapter 203
When Sandy heard it was a technical question, she didn't hesitate. Quickly grasping Miranda's experimental steps, she promptly offered some adjustments.
Elizabeth arrived and, seeing Miranda's intense focus, rolled her eyes. An undergraduate—what could she possibly know? It all seemed like a performance to Elizabeth.
Miranda worked through the morning. Only then did she realize everyone else had left for lunch.
She glanced at the clock. An hour and a half for lunch. She decided to go outside, grab a quick bite, and return to her experiments. However, as she stepped out, Paul approached with a takeout bag.
"I went downstairs for lunch and got you something too," he said.
Miranda noticed he only had one portion; he'd already eaten. "Thank you," she replied.
She ate in the break room, brewed another cup of coffee, and, recalling Sandy's suggestions, adjusted the ratios of her reactive materials. The results still fell short of her expectations.
The current data sufficed for her paper, but Miranda felt she could achieve greater precision. Redoing the experiment would be necessary.
She was incredibly grateful to Paul for the use of his lab. With such resources, she wasn't afraid of repeating the process as many times as needed.
Finishing her coffee, she returned to her workstation. Silas, Bryan, Sandy, and Elizabeth were gathered in discussion. As she approached, they dispersed, returning to their stations.
Miranda paused, but didn't dwell on it, refocusing on her experiment. Different circles didn't require forced inclusion; not everyone shared the same thoughts or values. Like a hunter and a woodcutter—one sought game, the other firewood; their goals differed, their paths diverged. Yet, they could coexist peacefully, journey together for a while, and part ways without loss, each pursuing their own destination. Things would be fine if left to their natural course.
Restarting the experiment left Miranda with little time. She was responsible for sampling, data analysis, and statistics—essentially, the workload of an entire research team. She was a one-woman army. When busy, she spent at least sixteen of every twenty-four hours in the lab.
Days passed. Sandy and Silas occasionally stopped by. Bryan, however, often spoke with Elizabeth, leaving little time for interaction with Miranda. Elizabeth, since the awkward dinner, hadn't spoken to Miranda. For the most part, Miranda worked alone.
After a grueling week, Miranda finally found time to rest. Her clothes were wrinkled and worn. The lab had a rest area and shower, but she hadn't anticipated her workload and had only brought two changes of clothes. She decided to go home.
Her succulents thrived, but the orchids had wilted. She fed the fish, cleaned the house, and packed clean clothes for the lab. Her phone rang. The caller ID brought a dismayed exclamation. She'd forgotten something important!