Chapter 1: A World of Possibilities

She often found herself lost in thought, envisioning herself anywhere, at any moment, engaging in any activity she desired. Her mind drifted through intricate dreams filled with vivid, colorful shapes that morphed in and out of existence, punctuated by sharp sounds like mathematical equations, and lonely roads lit by flickering neon lights.

The idea of searching for him crossed her mind, but she quickly dismissed it as foolish. It had been ages since she last ventured outside her home. She tried contacting him twice, using the two numbers listed in the company directory.

When she called the first number, a woman answered with a gravelly voice—perhaps a long-time smoker. She knew he had lived with his mother for a while, though she had never met her. She imagined this was the woman she spoke to and hung up without saying a word. The second number was likely his desk extension. After ten rings, the call went to voicemail, where a sultry voice instructed her to leave a message.

She did. Just two words: "Miss. You."

As she brushed her hair, she gazed into the comic-book-style glow of her Conair tri-fold mirror. The dim lighting didn’t resemble “Evening” at all, regardless of the setting. She adjusted the knob, rotating the lamps, bathing her face in various hues—Home, Office, and Day—ultimately selecting the brightest. After flipping the mirror back and forth, she pondered why she even bothered; it felt instinctive.

A sudden thought invaded her mind: he would be gone in six hours. Forever. Any opportunity to express what she needed to say would vanish with him.

With a final stroke of her hair, she grabbed her keys and purse, locking the door to her mobile home before heading toward her sky-blue Ford Pinto, affectionately named Ramses after the University of North Carolina mascot.

The engine roared to life on the second turn of the key as she spun gravel, driving west toward town. She planned to visit Northgate Mall for some shopping and perhaps swing by Donna’s apartment in hopes of scoring something. Work was definitely off the table. She would let these fleeting hours pass, accepting that whatever connection she had with this quirky, intellectual man who wasn't her type was over.

Yet, in her mind, a fuse ignited, sizzling ominously toward a comically large pile of explosives labeled T-N-T.

Dave listened to Fat Larry's wheezing laughter as he cracked another crude joke at Poland's expense. Larry often got away with it, being Polish himself. He had a point—if the new Duke basketball coach could joke about his heritage, why couldn't Larry?

"Am I right, Cochise?" he’d ask.

Everyone nodded, knowing that the new coach’s self-deprecating humor was part of his charm, especially since he likely wouldn’t last long due to the team’s performance. Perhaps that was why Larry felt free to make light of things; he too had an uncertain future.

The atmosphere in the office was charged, a final celebration before the inevitable collapse. Sperry-Rand's Durham branch was on the brink of closing, and the employees were determined to send it off with a raucous farewell. The news had spread swiftly—government contracts were pulled, and within days, the company was facing its demise.

First, the hosiery mills had moved to China, then tobacco companies fell victim to regulations and lawsuits, and now Sperry was on the verge of disappearing. The entire city seemed destined to follow suit, with downtown losing its vitality.

In just six hours, the glass and aluminum doors would close for good. Dave had made his decision to leave, a choice he should have made long ago. He felt like Bilbo Baggins, stretched thin as his life neared its end in the Shire, a part of him draining away into the cosmos.

Yet, a thought nagged at him—what about her? His throat tightened at the realization.

As Kowalczyk’s laughter erupted behind him, Dave glanced at the clock. Time was slipping away—just over five hours remained.

Chapter 2: The Beginning of Something

He remembered falling in love about a year ago, triggered by a chaotic scene at home. His mother had burst out of the house, frantic and apologetic, her face a mask of tears and snot.

"I've thooo thooooory, Bathe! I'be thooo thooooory!" she had cried, her words slurred by her emotional state. It was a familiar plea, one he had heard countless times before.

She had begged him to stay, insisting that doing so would mean he wouldn’t have to see his father again. Locks were changed, warrants issued, and his father even spent some time at Camp Butner. Dave doubted it would last, as it never had before, but her worn-down pleas tugged at his heart.

When he arrived home that day, his father was slouched on the porch, a beer in hand. Dave walked past him without a word, ignoring the usual discomfort that accompanied their encounters. He packed a gym bag and left, driving away with a mix of anger and sadness.

Later at work, Dr. Brooks approached him, sensing his distress. "Dave, if you're not too busy, come meet someone downstairs," he said, leading Dave to a part of the building he had never visited before.

"She's a workaholic," Dr. Brooks explained, "and hasn’t had much interaction with anyone besides Seymour Cray and me." He nudged Dave, suggesting they might hit it off. Dave, still reeling from his earlier turmoil, managed a weak smile.

When he met her, the world around him faded. All he could focus on was her presence. After that day, he made it a point to visit her in the basement, drawn to her like a moth to a flame.

Chapter 3: The Final Moments

She sat in a theater, watching a re-release of The Cat from Outer Space, her nails digging into the armrests as she battled the urge to confess her feelings. Every shared moment with him flashed behind her eyes, each one more precious than the last.

In one memory, she had laughed so hard at one of Kowalczyk's jokes that she inadvertently let out a loud noise, earning playful teasing from her colleagues.

Now, as the credits rolled, she realized she could no longer deny her feelings. She bolted from the theater, desperate to find him. Outside, she grabbed a phone book, searching for his unique last name. There were only two listings.

She sped toward his apartment, but he wasn't there. The elderly woman who answered the door was sympathetic but clueless about Dave’s whereabouts.

Afterward, she found herself parked on the side of Cheek Road, letting the tears flow as she pounded on her Pinto's radio in frustration.

The Last Bit

Dave arrived back at Sperry, heart racing and sweat dripping. The door was locked, but his friend Lance let him in after a quick excuse about forgetting his belongings.

She was still in the sub-basement when he found her. Overcome with emotion, he whispered, "I love you."

"Do you trust me?" he asked, and she replied, "I do."

He opened the panel labeled Main Logic, working quickly, and emerged just in time. As he drove away, he felt a sense of exhilaration, singing along to the music blaring from the imperfect radio.

In her dreams, she envisioned a world filled with vibrant colors and curves. The shadows of doubt faded away, and she realized she was in love too.

Troubleshooting a flickering neon sign and powering 110V signs in Europe.

A musical exploration of flickering neon lights by Gunnar Johnsén.