In this world there are two types of university students. One of the types would say that their university days are the best days of their lives. Leisurely attending lectures during the day and getting drunk while partying all night. An untroubled and free lifestyle in which they gain connections and friends for life. The other would say that their university days are hell. With 9 hour days filled with important lectures and labs, the likes of which missing a single one would be severely detrimental to one’s grade. Their nights filled with assignments and test preparation to the point where even keeping a hobby is a massive struggle. A lifestyle in which they are dedicated to succeeding in their education at the cost of any social interaction. Department of physics, forth year student, Glen Isaac, would almost certainly fall into the latter category.

Glen Isaac. Born into a well off family with one older brother. With black hair, brown eyes, an average face and slightly skinny build his appearance could only be called ordinary. Not exceptional, in both the good and bad sense. If you were to ask his fellow students what they thought about him you would get a variety of responses. Some would be positive, calling him studious, intellectual and polite, while others would be more negative, calling him anti-social, cold and boring. However, every single one of them would complement his commitment to furthering his knowledge.

Glen’s first introduction to physics was in early high school during one of the required basic science classes that briefly touched on chemistry, physics, biology and earth science. During this class Glen discovered his curiosity towards the world. In the past he would simply accept things for how they were without a second thought. Why was the sky blue? It didn’t matter to him. For a lack of better explanation, it just was and no more thought was needed. However, during that class these types of questions started to have a meaning in his life. Upon hearing about the basic mechanics of the world he became more and more interested. How, and why, things worked the way they did became something that gnawed at his mind until he received an answer. Physics, and science in general, delivered that answer. Perhaps it was the teacher’s enthusiasm for the subject, or maybe he simply enjoyed the material that much, that by the end of the course Glen’s path towards becoming a physicist was decided. Now, here he was, at the age of 21, set to finish his undergraduate degree in physics at the end of this semester.

“Hey Glen, you’re done with lectures for the day, right? Want to come and hang out with us at the bar.” (University Male A)

“Come on, it’ll be fun. A bunch of girls from the lecture are also going to be there.” (University Male B)

The two people speaking were Glen’s classmates from a philosophy lecture he took as an elective. Having worked together on a few projects at the beginning of the semester the three had reached the point where they could be considered friends even though they only really saw each other during the lectures. This invitation was the third one since the semester started from these two.

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“Sorry, I have a mid-term in relativity tomorrow. I have to be up all night studying for that and getting wasted probably isn’t the best idea.” (Glen)

Like every invitation before Glen politely rejected it. Although he truly wished he could go, if he didn’t properly study he would surely do badly on the mid-term. A fourth year physics course, with a pass rate of 40%, was not something to be taken lightly.

“Man, you’re always like this. Makes me glad that I’m not in the sciences. I would never be able to take that work load.” (University Male A)

“Eh, it isn’t that bad once you get used to it. Although I do regret not being able to keep up with my hobbies.” (Glen)

“If you say so . . . Anyways, we’re going to go and grab a few more people and head out. See you in lecture on Thursday.” (University Male A)

“Yeah, see you then.” (Glen)

With that the two moved to a different desk in the lecture room and gave an invitation to the people sitting there. Glen, having finished conversing with the two, packed away his notebook and writing utensils into his bag and left the lecture room. After a short walk down the hallway he exited the building onto a sidewalk covered in fresh snow. The second semester started on the first Monday of January. It now being mid-February meant that this type of weather was expected and would most likely continue for several weeks. Taking a scarf from his bag and wrapping it around his neck and face, Glen made his way a small distance to a local bus stop. A short bus ride later he was at his apartment and fumbling with his keys to open the door.

Entering the apartment he removed his shoes and moved further in to a small living room. On one end of the room stood two bookshelves crammed full of text books and novels. In the corner, a desk with a rather high spec computer. A remnant of when he actually had time for his video game hobby now repurposed for analyzing data for his lab work. In the center, a small couch placed in front of a desk piled high with notebooks and papers. Tossing his bag beside the couch Glen moved to clear some room on the desk and brought out several notebooks pertaining to his mid-term tomorrow. With this, he began a long night of studying filled with many cups of instant coffee.

At around 2 am, while almost finished his preparation for tomorrow’s mid-term, Glen’s eyes began to blur and an excruciating headache and dizziness assaulted him. The last thing he felt was his head fall to the desk as he slowly lost consciousness.