Once settled at the microfiche table, Mike remembered reading about the medical studies that led to the approval of Glurelix for Diabetes. They had been based on extensive animal testing. Early formulations of related compounds did cause toxicity and deaths in lab animals.
A microfiche record expanded on the two predecessors to Glurelix, phenformin and buformin. Both these formulations were able to cross cell membranes and accumulate in mitochondria more readily. This led to a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in the blood, tipping patients into lactic acidosis, which imbalances the body’s natural acidity or PH state.
The symptoms of that imbalance included nausea, vomiting, and fatigue, among others. Mike also discovered that Glurelix prevented lactic acidosis by inducing faster renal excretion. No wonder I keep peeing so much at night! Thought Mike.
Then Mike wondered what Glurelix was actually made of. This led him to search the web on the library’s computers. After an exhausting two hours, he came across a lab report that disclosed the real chemical composition of Glurelix.
The image of his comatose father crossed his mind as he discovered that Glurelix was composed of two chemicals that, on their own, were toxic to humans. But somehow, the combination of these two poisons, when processed through specific chemical reactions, renders them less toxic.
Two actual poisons! Who would believe it? Thought Mike. This motivated him to dig even deeper. What else was hidden from millions of diabetics? After more than six hours of research, Mike’s head was buzzing with surprise, confusion, and most of all, determination to get to the bottom of all this.
“Attention library patrons, the library will be closing in 15 minutes. Please log out of all equipment and bring checkout books to the counter.”
The bus ride home was like a dizzy spell of meaningless shadows. His legs brought him to his door like an automaton. His body simply dropped into the sofa like a being exposed to unbelievable turmoil.
A loud ring from the kitchen snapped Mike from his spell. He jumped off the sofa and answered. It was his on-again, off-again girlfriend. “Hey, hi Marsha. What a surprise!” Said Mike.
“Yeah…Don’t be so surprised. I’m just checking on you, haven’t heard from you in weeks! What’s going on, Mike?”
“Oh, nothing much, really. I’ve just been feeling kinda down lately. You know, real work has been hard to come by these days,” muttered Mike.
“Wait a minute, didn’t you have something lined up about 4 weeks ago, some sort of neighborhood interviews?”
“Marsha, I did, and I went to the first location. But as soon as I arrived, the fellow saw me and said that the job was taken already!” “You know, I think he just didn’t like my color.”
“Oh, Mike, didn’t you check who was involved in the job first? You know this happens to us all the time…”
“I know. I was just so hopeful because it paid pretty good.”
“So, what are you gonna do now? Any prospects out there?”
“Woman, I’m reeling here about some stuff that I bumped into that may become something. You know, let’s call it a ‘lead’.”
“A lead, huh? Well, I hope that lead does become something…I don’t want to see you depressed like the last time; you really scared me when I got that call from the hospital!” An overdose of sleeping pills was his solution for many sleepless nights.
“Girl, I’m sorry about that…I was so stupid. But I promised you that nothing like that will ever happen again, and I’m keeping my promise.”
“All right, then. Let’s hope those unemployment checks keep coming in. I don’t want to see you bothering your mom for money…You know her situation ain’t good either.”
“I know, I know…Marsha, I really appreciate you calling. I don’t really have any friends around here, and just listening to you is great!”
“Okay, Mike. Just don’t be a stranger, man. You know me, I’ll never reject your call, and I’m here for you anytime.”
“Thanks, Marsha. I feel very lucky to have met you and…I am so sorry it didn’t work out between us.” At the time, Mike was drowning his career frustrations with alcohol, and it got to a point where it became destructive.
“That’s in the past. Ok, love. Talk to you later, ok?”
“Sure thing, Marsha. Good night.”
Talking to Marsha brought back many good memories with her. He missed her wide smile, sultry voice, and the way she calmed him down. Just listening to her voice again was like a dose of dopamine swirling through his head. This day had brought a myriad of emotions that lingered in his mind. A wave of drowsiness was inevitable; the bed welcomed his body to an early rest.