| General Fiction posted September 12, 2024 | Chapters: |
...35 36 -37- 38... 
|
  |
Big decisions back in North Carolina
A chapter in the book DUEL with the DEVIL
DUEL with the DEVIL - Chapter 37
by Jim Wile
| Background A brilliant young chemist creates a new painkilling drug with unknown benefits and pitfalls. |
Recap of Chapter 36: This chapter moves forward to the end of their four years of college, and Brian and Julia get married and go to grad school together in Cleveland. Julia is the best violinist in the school, and Brian does well in his studies.
Julia becomes a soloist whose career advances steadily as she travels around being a guest performer, while Brian goes to work at a pharmaceutical company. He has plans of branching off soon to create his own lab and work on his dream of developing a non-addictive painkiller. He wants to experiment on himself and fast-track the development, which he wouldn’t be able to do at his present job.
Despite all the time apart, Brian and Julia remain very much in love, and treasure the times when she returns from her travels.
Chapter 37
Three years later
2019
They say timing is everything in life, and I felt the time was right to branch out on my own. As 28-year-olds, Julia and I have done very well in our careers and have managed to save a lot of money. She netted close to half a million dollars in the past year with her current schedule, and with more international invitations, this would increase. She was becoming highly sought after in the concert world.
I didn’t earn as much but still had an excellent salary. Professionally, I had learned what I needed to while working at Detry. I believed I now had the tools necessary to work independently on my own drug that would cure once and for all the ailments I had been suffering since I was 16.
Perhaps the term "cure" wasn't appropriate, as it's unlikely that the pain my weakened back felt would ever go away. Let's simply say that the medication would eliminate the pain from the injury. But, more than that, I hoped to succeed in my goal of creating a drug that was non-addicting and could just be taken like Tylenol, albeit with a much stronger analgesic effect. “That was a good plan,” as Daniel would have said.
“Jules, I’ve been thinking,” I said over breakfast one Saturday morning in the spring, while Julia was at home. “We’ve talked about this a lot, but I feel like it’s finally time for me and Detry to part ways. I’ve learned a hell of a lot working there these past three years, but I think the time has come for me to go it alone now.”
“To develop your new drug.”
“Yep. There’s just one thing, though. I won’t be making any money for a while if I devote all my time to building and working in my own lab upstairs. Are you okay with using the money we’ve saved to build the lab and to support us while I work on the new drug?”
This was a serious question, and I hoped she would give it serious thought before simply saying either yes or no. My faith in her was rewarded as she paused for a long time to frame an answer.
“Babe, I have thought about the ramifications of this project for some time now. I’ve known for years you’ve wanted to do this. I’m also convinced you have the intelligence and the technical skills to succeed. I don’t know if you will succeed, as I’m sure you don’t really know either at this point, but I’m willing for you to give it a try if you honestly think you have a decent shot at making a drug that works.”
Now I took some time to answer her. This was a serious discussion and not an occasion for joking around as we were accustomed to doing. I wanted to give her an honest assessment because it would have a profound effect on our resources, which, although significant, were not inexhaustible and would be heavily taxed.
“Jules, you don’t know how much your faith in me means. I honestly believe I have a shot at this, and I would use the money wisely. I’ve done a lot of thinking about the science, and although it will be cutting edge, I think there’s a very real possibility that I can succeed. I don’t say this on a wing and a prayer either.
“You know how I’ve stayed in touch with Paul Rieke since my undergrad years. I’ve done a lot of brainstorming with him on much of the theory behind it, and I will continue to do so. He’s been very encouraging so far and hasn’t been able to raise any true red flags. I wouldn’t be offended if you wished to talk to him first, and I don’t expect you to decide right now. I just wanted to get it out there for you to consider because you will almost 100 percent be supporting us for however long it takes to become marketable, if indeed we ever see that day. It’s a risk—some would say a huge risk. I do want to make that clear. So really, I’m leaving it up to you as to whether you’re willing to take that risk with our livelihood.”
“I am, Babe. I have confidence in your ability. I know you’ll give it your best shot and won’t be wasteful with the money. But, after all, it’s only money, and if your project fails, it fails. It won’t change anything except some numbers on paper. But if you’re successful, think of how many people it would help, not least of all you. Think of the quality of life you would help restore to all those suffering as you do or worse. Even if the risk were greater than you think at this point, I still think it would be worthwhile to take it. I don’t need any more time to consider. You have my complete support.”
I lacked the words for a reply. I simply took her hand and said, “I love you.” We smiled and looked into each other’s eyes for a long moment.
“I love you too.”
And that was the moment it began. I wrote up my resignation letter to Detry that weekend and presented it to them on Monday. I was upfront with them about the reason for quitting. Because of the contract I had signed with them when I was hired, they understood one of my reasons for going it alone. If I had convinced them of the project's efficacy and they had accepted it, they would own the drug's patent and receive most of its profits. I would most likely have gotten a big bonus, but they would be the owners of the patent.
I wasn't primarily motivated by glory or money, but I understood that these benefits would significantly increase if I were to develop the drug independently. And they promised to be substantial. I mean really substantial—in the 8-figure range. Scientists have been working on a solution to the problems with opioids for a number of years now, and my solution would make opioids obsolete as painkillers. This would likely cause a huge backlash in Big Pharma, but I wasn’t going to worry about that at this point.
I didn’t discuss with Detry my biggest reason for wanting to go it alone, however. As I’ve said before, this was my impatience at the slow pace at which new drugs have been brought to market. I wanted to fast-track this drug, not only to improve my own quality of life but to help save many other lives from the devastation and deaths that opioids cause.
Now, with Julia’s blessing, I could envision my dream of success, and I started work immediately with plans to construct my lab upstairs and to start buying equipment and supplies. The dream was turning into a reality.
 Recognized |
Brian Kendrick: The narrator of the story. At the beginning of the story, he is 12 years old and in 6th grade in Kernersville, North Carolina. The story traces his life into his 30s.
Julia Kendrick: Brian's wife whom he met at rehab when they were 16. She becomes a premier violinist.
Francine (Fran) Kendrick: Brian's older sister. She is 18 at the beginning of the story and goes to junior college, where she studies law enforcement.
Rafael Ortiz (Raffi): Youth therapy group leader at the rehab facility.
Robert Entwistle: Julia's father.
Dr. Marie Schmidt: Julia's mother.
Mike Pekarsky: Fran's boyfriend who she met on her Caribbean cruise.
Daniel Molebatsi: Brian's undergrad college roommate. He is from Botswana and is a business major.
Dr. Paul Rieke: Brian's organic chemistry professor.
Kimiko Yamada (Kimi): Brian's organic chemistry lab partner. She is from Japan and also resides in his and Daniel's dorm.
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2024. Jim Wile All rights reserved.
Jim Wile has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.