Fate's Game
Cambridge in the past few days had been in constant rain, so when the sun finally came out, it was a refreshing and welcoming change. Students and staff alike were enjoying the weather by walking and talking all around the university campus.
In a classroom located in the corner of the Faculty of Mathematics building, a lecture was in session.
"Now then, a subspace has three properties: it is non-empty – meaning you have a set of things, closed under addition and closed under scalar multiplication. If one of these three properties is not satisfied, then you wouldn't have a subspace," Professor John Smith explained enthusiastically to his students who were seated in front of him and listening carefully.
A student raised his hand and John nodded, signalling him to speak. "Professor – I mean, Doctor, is a subspace like a subset?"
John pondered on the question for a moment. "Well, I suppose you could think of it that way since everything that is in a subspace is in the vector space – yes, but do remember these three properties," he explained, pointing at the chalkboard. "These are essential are we progress further into the topic."
The student nodded and the Doctor began writing more details regarding the topic they were going through. He had been teaching at the university for almost 20 years and couldn't have been happier with his job. Almost everything about it was fantastic – the students were bright and eager to learn, something he greatly appreciated and he got along well with his colleagues.
Before moving to Cambridge, he had worked in a smaller university shortly after completing his thesis on algebraic logic. However, personal reasons had caused him to move out of the town and look for a job else where.
The Doctor was sure that it was just pure luck that a faculty member had fallen ill and needed someone to fill in his position as soon as possible. He took the opportunity and impressed the head of the college up to the point where he offered him a permanent job as lecturer.
And now here he was, 20 years later, giving a talk on Vector Spaces to a class that consisted of about 10 students. The lecture ended an hour later and John gathered his personal belongings before leaving the classroom, heading back to his office to prepare for his final lecture for the day that starts just an hour after lunch.
The weekend was drawing closer and he was looking forward to seeing his good friend, Lord Lethbridge-Stewart who had invited him to dinner with his family. He hadn't seen him for over two years so it would be nice to see how things are.
The Doctor wasn't one that was known for being very social but sometimes, his lonely life and empty home got the better of him and so he accepted the invitation. Usually, he would spend the weekend in his home, working on his research or reading, rarely leaving his study. On some occasions, he would forget about sleep and food, too engrossed in his work. It was a habit he needed to control or it would just take a toll on his health. He wasn't keen on spending the weekend in London but he supposed it wouldn't be all too bad.
As soon as his final lecture for the day concluded, John went straight home and began packing for his trip. He had no idea why he was feeling keen all of a sudden. Maybe he was just glad to finally be out of his house for a reason other than going to work?
It's not that he hated his home. No, he loved it. It may look a bit small from the outside but on the inside, it gave off the impression that there was more space.
Morning came by quickly and before the Doctor knew it, he was on board the train to London. Since the journey was two hours long, he decided to pass the time by reading and occasionally enjoying the view of the countryside.
It reminded him of his youth. The Doctor came from a wealthy Scottish family but he had no interest in the family business whatsoever. It irked his father that he wanted nothing to do with it. He could still remember the look on his father's face as he told him he wished to become a professor and leave the business in the hands of someone else.
The decision had caused him to be cut off from the will – not that he minded. His salary as a professor was good enough and he still had a large sum of money he inherited from his late grandfather. Sure, he could have been filthy rich but to slave away hours after hours doing something he had no passion in was just plain stupid.
The Doctor was snapped out of his thoughts when the train finally docked into a platform at King's Cross. Putting his hat back on, he grabbed his suitcase and left the first class coach.
London, or at least the train station seemed to be a bit crowded. Then again, it is the weekend. Nothing to be too surprised about.
As he was heading towards the exit, he bumped into a woman, causing her to drop her suitcase.
"Sorry," both said in unison.
John immediately bent down to pick it up.
He had assumed they would go about their business after the small accident. Having his mouth agape and staring such at a beautiful, yet round face were two things he did not anticipate.
He was still holding her suitcase with one hand, speechless.
The woman had puzzled look on her face. "My suitcase, sir, if you intend to give it back."
"Oh yes, here you are."
She smiled at him. "Thank you," and with that, she disappeared into the crowd.
The Doctor was still standing in the centre, awestruck by the woman he had bumped into. He couldn't remember the last time he felt as if, well, he wasn't quite sure what he was feeling at the moment. His palms were sweaty, stomach acting funnily and his heart beating rapidly.
No. Not now. He needed to check into the hotel. Now is not the time to be thinking about the woman whom he had just had a one minute interaction with.
"Get a grip, John," he muttered to himself as he continued to walk past people. "It's probably because you haven't been with a woman for ages," he reasoned.
Right. He needed to get back on track. Check in and prepare for dinner. Simple as that.
And that's exactly what he did once he stepped into the hotel.
"John Smith," he said to the concierge.
He smiled at the Doctor. "Professor Smith, we've been expecting you. Lord Lethbridge has upgraded your room to a suite."
Of course he would do that. Lethbridge owned the hotel. Nothing much has changed with his old friend it would seem.
Once the Doctor was settled in, his thoughts wandered back to his encounter with the woman at the train station.
"You're over fifty and yet, here you are acting like a typical teenager," he murmured to himself, shaking his head. "Get over it, John."
The Doctor brushed away any thoughts of her from his mind. She was just another random woman in London. Hardly any chance of seeing her again… or so he thought.
