It was the end of a tough, on-again off-again breakup, when Experimentalist and Theorist Scientist finally parted ways.
Experimentalist (Experimenter to his friends) remained deeply committed and humble throughout the whole ordeal.
If you asked, he would tell you, "I am nothing without Theorist."
Theorist, however, felt trapped and constrained. She increasingly saw Experimenter as holding her back; as being too rigid and set in his ways.
Where Are They Now?
Quite some time has passed now, since that fateful, final day. Experimentalist Scientist has not fared as well as Theorist. He spends many lonely nights in the lab, gathering information, letting it lead him where it will, to new experiments that answer more seemingly uninteresting questions. He is adrift, and no longer seems to have any sense of purpose. He has confided to me that he doesn't know what it's all for anymore, though he sometimes seeks emotional solace in the hospital district, helping sick people.
On a brighter note, Theorist seems to be handling the breakup much better. It probably doesn't hurt that she has clearly retained the richer, more stylish friends. Their accelerating lifestyles are colliding in so many different and quarky ways it makes your head feel like it's spinning on a string.
After the final break (and some speculate, even before it was over) Theorist began spending a great deal of time with Philosopher Theologian. The two of them have gotten along swimmingly together, and have even started doing that thing where they finish each others sentences. A fact which causes no end of heartbreak to Experimenter and his friends.
Some relationships are just classics, like Bogey and Bacall. It doesn't matter if we have chosen Theorist's circle, or Experimenter's, we are all deeply saddened by the apparent hopelessness of ever seeing these two back together. When they were together, they were a towering beacon of clarity and a brilliant light shining in all of our lives. Now we are left with only the old familiar tower.
Oh well.
Stand Out Publishing
