Alexander Henry's Journal

Today was a beautiful day, for today was full of rain. I noticed a group of children dancing about puddles in the park on my way to the train station. The park had grown considerably in recent years, but still had the welcoming effect which drew me in some 60 years ago. I reminisced of Emily and the boys; of all the memories we’d had there. My life has known no greater joy than when Miles made the transition from training wheels or when William earned his first homerun there. That park promoted happiness in every sense; something as arbitrary as a tree produced crippling joy. I used to meet clients there when I’d first started out as a lawyer. I met David in that park.

David was a botanist who’d tailored his talents toward the genetic manipulation of marijuana. When I’d met him, he needed counsel to defend him against what was a seemingly impossible drug conviction case; David had created a monopoly out of illegal marijuana distribution and would be facing life in prison barring a miracle. When David wasn’t creating revolutionary strains of marijuana, he dabbled in epidemiology – a type of medicine that focuses on incidence and control of diseases. Through every connection I’d made, I managed to reach a settlement - in my first case mind you - in which David would sign over the rights to a revolutionary compound he’d been working on that would allow for the most environmentally conscious treatment of Cholera via the sewage system -- and later, after advanced research and manipulation of the ricin content, through a prescription drug. This drug would eventually rise to the very top of pharma lists. Nevertheless, David set aside his loss and happily accepted the non-guilty verdict. Against my better judgement, I’d managed to sneak a vial of the compound -- as my first symbol of the legal victory -- before the last of it was confiscated from David’s laboratory. I had a shelf designated for these symbols which would house memories from a career of legal battle.

6:00 pm signaled the commencement of liquor sales on the train and represented the halfway point between work and home. I’d grown accustomed to napping during this intermission and found the alcohol to aid considerably. On this particular day, I’ve finally come to terms with the 80 years I’ve been afforded on this beautiful planet. I have accomplished much of what I set out to do, and coped with more hardship than one should have to. It has been 12 long years since the accident which robbed me of my family and dearest friend David. The vial of compound I’d kept – compound which would save an astronomical number of lives including least obvious, David’s – would now save me from the life I’d unfortunately inherited. I’ve let the ice coax my old fashioned to a desirable chill and in stirring in my salvation, bid farewell to my turmoil and welcome the return of my loved ones.