The rhythmic sound of a spoon stirring coffee echoed softly through the laboratory. Two men sat across from one another at the centre of the room. The place looked nothing like an ordinary office. Scientific equipment occupied almost every workspace. Glass containers, measuring instruments and unfinished research materials rested beneath dim white lights, while machines produced a constant low hum that blended into the silence. Genido slowly stirred the coffee inside a small cup before him. After a few turns, he stopped. "When are you getting married?" he asked. Juson smiled faintly. His eyes drifted towards the sealed window beside them before he answered. "Next month. Twenty-third of July." Genido listened quietly. His expression revealed nothing, yet it almost felt as though he had memorised the date for a reason. Silence returned.
After a brief pause, Juson spoke again. "Why did we fail?" He hesitated for a moment before continuing. "The third attempt... why did it fail?" Genido remained silent. He lifted the cup and took a slow sip of coffee. Instead of answering, he asked his own question. "Are you getting bored of these experiments?" Juson shook his head immediately. "No." He paused before continuing. "I'm actually enjoying them." His voice softened. "I just want to see the outcome." The words left his mouth almost too quickly. Something about sitting in front of Genido always made him choose his words carefully. A small laugh escaped Genido. "You didn't need to tell me that." His smile disappeared as quickly as it had appeared. "The next attempt will answer more than enough."
The room became quiet once again. Only the faint sounds of machinery continued around them. Several moments passed before Juson gathered enough courage to speak. "Can I ask you something?" Genido looked directly into his eyes. Juson took a slow breath. "I mean... something normal." And asked about Genido's profession. Genido answered without hesitation. "I'm a pathologist." His reply came so naturally that it almost sounded unrelated. Yet he spoke with complete confidence, as though the answer itself carried meaning Juson had yet to understand. Juson fell silent. The conversation ended there. Genido finished the last sip of coffee and placed the cup onto the table. The dull sound echoed across the laboratory.
Almost immediately, another sound followed. An engine. Far away. In another time. A police vehicle travelled along the riverside road. Inside sat the police officer and his assistant. Evening had already begun settling over the city. The assistant kept his attention on the road while the officer looked through the window. After a while, the officer finally spoke. "Print a news article tomorrow." The assistant glanced sideways. "What kind of article?" "A fake one." The officer's expression remained unchanged. "Write that the fetus case has officially been closed by the Police of Derata." The assistant frowned. "Are you serious?" The officer ignored the question. The vehicle continued moving until it reached a residential street.
The assistant slowed down before stopping in front of a house. The officer opened the door. Before stepping outside, he looked back one final time. "Print it." The assistant wanted to argue. Instead, he simply nodded. Rank left little room for disagreement. The police vehicle turned around and disappeared back towards the riverside while the officer entered his home. Children's voices echoed from somewhere inside the house. Outside, the street gradually returned to silence.
Only a few moments later, another car entered the neighbourhood. It stopped two houses away. The driver's door opened. Genido stepped out. His calm pace disappeared the instant his feet touched the ground. He walked quickly through the front entrance, crossed the narrow corridor and stopped outside his bedroom. The wooden floor creaked beneath every step. Standing beside the door, he reached into his pocket. After searching briefly, he removed a small folded piece of paper. A telephone number had been written across it. Without wasting another second, he walked towards the telephone resting on a table beside the bed. He dialled the number. The ringing continued for several seconds. Finally... Someone answered.
Neither of them spoke immediately. Genido broke the silence first. "Hello." The person on the other side recognised his voice instantly. "Why are you calling?" It was the wanted doctor. "Where are you?" Genido asked. The doctor stood outside a house somewhere beyond the neighbouring city. He looked carefully towards both ends of the street before answering. "I'm in the neighbouring city." His voice remained unusually low. Genido nodded to himself. "I need another supply." The doctor's expression darkened. Before he could refuse, Genido continued. "I'll pay double this time." The line disconnected.
The doctor stared silently at the phone for several seconds before slipping it back into his pocket. Without another word, he turned around and walked aggressively back inside the house. Meanwhile, Genido placed the telephone back onto the table. He sat down on the edge of the bed. His back faced the bedroom door. Slowly, he lowered himself onto the mattress. As he lay there, his eyes drifted towards a small table beside the bed. A single photograph rested there. Facing him. His gaze never moved away from it. Outside, the last rays of sunlight disappeared beneath the horizon. Darkness quietly spread across the city.
Inside the room, old memories threatened to surface. Before they could... Genido turned away from the photograph. His eyes slowly closed. Sleep claimed him. Behind him... The woman inside the photograph continued watching in silence.