The next few days have been uneventful, and even when I have been accepted for interviews in some of the other places that I applied to, I am still hoping that I will receive that call from the museum, which still has not happened yet. Then Friday came, and it was my official last day at Genico Pharmaceuticals.

You would think that some of my colleagues would wish you good luck or even give you a card but so far I have not received either of that. Part of me is glad to leave this place because of the profit-centric and cold environment I have experienced since I started working there while I was in grad school, but another part of me freaking out because I have no idea where my life and research will go in the future.

I just spent my day filling out some resignation paperwork, and cleaning out my lab station for the next person who will take it. After I finished placing a new box of micropipette tips on the desk, I decided to clean out my office before I left. After I cleaned out the rest of my possessions, I was taking my packed bag with me when I heard a voice suddenly call

"Hey Edwin!"

When I turned around, I saw a familiar face of a man who had short blonde hair and blue eyes, it was just a guy who I have worked on some projects with here and there. I was surprised to see him considering that we practically never talked to each other outside of our projects.

"Oh hi Jack, is there something wrong?" I answered cautiously

"Oh no, I just wanted to say that it's going to be weird not working with you here, and it's a shame to see you go, if it's because I steal your yogurt from the fridge, I promise not to do it again."

As we started to walk down to the stairwell to the first floor I responded to his concerns, feeling a little complimented knowing that at least one person will remember me by the end of the day.

"Man, you are the first and only person to say that to me all day, and I agree it was fun to do those projects with you but I'm not leaving because of you, I'm leaving Genico because I felt that this is place is not the best place to complete the type of research I enjoy and I want to work in an environment that focuses on working for the enjoyment of research rather than competing on whose research might result in a large profit. Possibly leading to a future with actual fulfil- wait WHAT? You've been stealing my yogurt, I've always thought that one of the researcher's across the hall kept taking it."

"I guess I can understand that and you can't do anything about the yogurt, the past is the past."

"You can say that again, although some people seem to forget that."

"True, I just wish you luck on whatever research you do in the future."

"Thanks, you too!"

As we got outside, it was a little windy outside so I decided to put a light jacket over my lab coat. I turned to Jack and said.

"Well gotta get to the Red Line before the good seats are taken by the rush hour crowd."

"Are you sure you don't want me to give you a wide, because I heard some bad stuff about the Red Line and all the dangers it has. Plus I don't get why you only took your car to work on certain days because why own a care if you barely use it."

After that, I started to get defensive seeing that he has not listened to me about this topic over the past four to five years working with him.

"No thank you I am fine, and for the hundredth time, sure the Red Line might have its fair share of incidents but News Flash: CRIME HAPPENS EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD and just because crime might not happen frequently where you live, doesn't mean that it won't happen at all."

"Well I guess you got a point there, but I know that-"

"And please stop talking as if you know everything in Chicago because you live in Wilmette, you don't know shit about life in Chicago. I've been taking the Red Line since I was thirteen; I'm twenty eight now and so far nothing has happened to me. Sure there can be the occasional incident but from my experience the Red Line is an efficient and affordable way to get around the city, plus I don't have to pay a fortune on gas bills like you and FYI there's a thing called Climate Change and I want to try to reduce my car's contribution to it because I care about the future of this planet."

Jack then started to look a little tense, even when I have called out people from the suburbs on similar topics before, I guess my lecture really did a number on Jack this time and he started to speak up cautiously.

"I guess that's an understandable reason, I am sorry that I broke a nerve or something."

"It's okay, I guess sometimes I get tired of this constant misinformation, whether it is suburban people claiming they're from Chicago to suburban people trying to describe life in Chicago when they have never lived in the city. I've given these same lectures during undergrad, grad school and here and some time it's annoying to repeat these lectures."

"Don't worry Edwin, I've learned my lesson."

"Thanks, wanna stay in touch?"

"Sure, I hope you do well wherever you'll end up. See ya!"

"Thanks, see ya!"

I began to walk down the sidewalk and notice all of the buildings, people and street lights around me and it makes me think of the uncertainty of where my future will lead me to next. Will I be part of research that will give my life a sense of fulfillment, or will I find a home amongst the shadows of my insecurities. Sometimes it makes me scared thinking about the future and whether I will amount to anything or not. My only weapons against my insecurities now is determination and courage. I guess since I used them to survive four years of boredom in small-town Indiana for my undergrad years, I guess I can survive wherever my next job will be.

I finally reach the Red Line stop on Jarvis Avenue, took out my ventra card and swiped to pass through the revolving gates. As I entered the stop for the train towards 95th and Dan Ryan, I noticed that the stop is starting to get crowded, looks like I made it just before the major rush hour crowding. As soon as the train arrived I rushed on to grab on the first pole that I can find. I have always found it relaxing to see the buildings and trees pass as the train car moves before it goes underground after Fullerton. I eventually got of Lake to transfer to the Blue Line through the Pedway.

The pedway is now covered inch to inch by people in the middle of rush hour. I eventually made it to the Washington Blue Line stop towards O'Hare and I just made it to see the doors open, practically rushing in the crowded car. As soon as I grabbed the nearest pole, the doors close, followed by the next stop in the line, following with the message from the intercom:

Your safety is important. If you observe any unauthorized packages, vandalism or suspicious activity, report it to CTA personnel immediately, Thank you for riding CTA.

When the train eventually stopped at the Logan Square stop, I got off the train carrying my bag with me, and I climbed the stairs to reach the surface again. I live fairly close to the stop so I just had to walk a block to get back home. As soon as I entered my apartment, I undid my ponytail to let my hair drop to my shoulders and dropped my body onto the couch after the day I just had. I was near falling asleep when my phone started to ring. I looked at the number and it was a Chicago area code so thinking it was one of the places I applied to, I answered it.

"Hello?"

"Hello Edwin?" a familiar voice sounded

"Yes?"

"Hi, this is Bupu from the Pritzker Lab at the Field Museum, and I am pleased to inform you that your qualifications have interested our lab manager and they would like to have a formal interview with you to see if our lab will be a good fit with you."

"Oh my! That is great to hear, I will be honored to participate in the interview. I am glad to have the opportunity to get to know more about the department. Is there a time that the lab manager has in mind for the interview?"

"Yes she told me that anytime between Monday and Thursday would work for, she prefers that you wear business professional attire and I will email you a temporary special access pass for you to get through security"

"Okay thanks, and how does Tuesday at 10:00 sound?"

"Let me check the schedule she gave me…...okay she is actually a little busy during that time, how does that same day at 12 sound?"

"Sounds good, tell her that I am looking forward to talking with her then!"

"I will, I am looking forward to hearing about it and good luck!"

"Thanks! Have a good day!"

"Thanks! Bye!"

"Bye!" [Call ended appears on screen]

I felt a new sense of energy and relief knowing that I might have a research position in my future, right after I quit Genico. But then I just realized that I just have four days to prepare for the interview and I need to get started my preparation immediately, but then I saw the inbox on my computer screen and then thought

I should probably check on these twelve unread emails first.