starlight

“Don’t you dream impossible things?”

Despite the fact she had checked the trial results twenty times already, Sharon decided to check them just once more. Part of her was afraid the words would magically change from the last time she read them. The other part of her was beyond thrilled and could have read that report a thousand more times. The results gave her the same information from the first time she’d read them. Sharon knew this would have to be quadruple-checked, that dozens of other scientists and laboratories would replicate her process to authenticate its accuracy. But Sharon was sure. Because the first time she’d had similar trial results was nearly five years ago. She knew she had been close but hadn’t really believed she would ever get there. There it was all laid out in front of her, the mystery of the chemical, genetic, and environmental factors that caused autism.

There were the kids. Sharon actually had had very little interaction with the children involved in the trial, occasionally speaking with parents when they had questions or to personally observe the children with significant difficulties or abnormal results. Sharon’s own results wouldn’t really change the lives of the kids that had participated in the trial. One thing that was clear was that autism was like a switch in the brain; once turned on it was impossible to turn off. But there were so many future generations that would benefit from this information and the rate of autism should drop drastically. It would be a preventable condition by parents if they were aware and cautious of all the factors.

But honestly, Sharon wasn’t sure who she was more excited for. It was selfish, especially considering how important this project was and how many other people had contributed time and energy, but she was so proud of this accomplishment she could barely breathe. She had put in the past ten years of work in this laboratory, day after day smothered by scientific research and medical records. She had spent the ten years before that studying, undergraduate degree then master’s degree and finally her doctorate. Twenty years of her life that she willingly sacrificed but didn’t truly believe would amount to much in her lifetime. Sharon had always believed she was putting in the work that someone someday would turn into the miracle that sat on her desk.