Page 18 of The Life Experiment
‘Layla, hi. Just wondering if you’re coming back to the office today? There’s a bit of a crisis. You see, the…’
With zero fucks to give, Layla zoned out until she became aware of silence on the other end of the line. ‘I won’t be back today, no,’ she heard herself say.
‘Oh, okay. Well, that’s fine. We’ll manage without you somehow.’
Layla’s nostrils flared at Michelle’s not-so-subtle guilt trip. Once upon a time – a few hours ago, even – it would have worked, but as Layla squared her jaw, she told herself,not anymore. ‘I need to go,’ she said, ending the call before Michelle could speak again.
Setting her phone on the table, Layla folded her arms. She had been rude, but she didn’t care. In two years’ time, nothing would matter anyway.
Numb, Layla focused on life outside the cafe. The world looked different now. Scarier, less certain. Everything felt different too. Layla’s smart clothes itched her skin. Her high heels pinched her toes. Layla was even talking differently. Years ago, when she’d grown tired of her colleagues teasing her for her northern accent, Layla trained herself out of using it. She’d copied phrases her privately educated colleagues used and rolled her vowels like she’d grown up with the richest of them.
But now? Now, fuck it. She would use contractions and slang and every profanity she could think of. Let her sentences be short andclipped and as blunt as she could make them. Who cared what anyone thought anymore?
Who cared about anything anymore?
Suddenly, all Layla wanted was a hug. A pair of strong arms wrapped around her to prove that she wasn’t as alone as she felt.
I want my mum.
The words rattled through Layla. She hadn’t had that thought in years, but at that moment, it was true – Layla wanted her mum. She wanted her mum more than she wanted anything. Even to live past the age of thirty-one.
Joanna was a good mum, a great mum… Had Layla ever told her that? Had she ever thanked her, or her dad? Her dad with his round tummy and bald spot at the back of his head, who battled for years to overcome the physical and mental trauma of his accident, to get back to work. He drove a taxi part-time, even though sitting for so long made his joints stiff. He worked nights, even though it meant he was always tired. But pain and exhaustion meant food on the table. It meant a better life for his family.
Layla’s heart broke as she thought of the people who not only gave her life, but a great life at that. And Maya, the sister who’d been an ally through it all… Had Layla ever thanked her? Had she ever sat her family down and told them how grateful she was?
Grief pushed up Layla’s throat as she thought about how desperate she’d been to leave Hull. Determined to prove the world wrong when it tried to limit all she could be, she ran, but she hadn’t meant to leave her family behind in the process. Over the years it just… happened. Work got busier, her ambition grew hungrier. Recently, all Layla’s energy was spent by the time Friday rolled around. Who wanted to take the train to Hull and back again at the weekend when they could barely keep their eyes open?
Who had time to cook, work out, read a book, go on a date? All those things had been on Layla’s ‘one day’ list, but now she couldn’tdeny it would be nice to have someone there when she came home after a long day.
The shock of her sudden desire for romance tore through Layla. Love hadn’t been on her radar for a long time. Not since her most serious relationship ended six years ago.
Once upon a time, Layla believed she would marry Trent Otello. After meeting in the university library, Trent would joke that he knew Layla was the one because she was more interested in books than booze. It had been a cute line. One that, like their relationship, hadn’t stood the test of time.
Their natural end came around the time Trent realised that to be in a relationship, you actually had to see the other person. He tried to sit Layla down three evenings in a row so they could break up. Each time, she was home so late that it was dark outside. For a week, they slept side-by-side with Trent’s packed suitcase in the wardrobe and Layla too tired to notice.
Now, she could barely remember his face.
You cried when he left, Layla’s brain reminded her.You must have cared.
But Layla knew the real reason for her tears. The moment the door closed behind Trent had marked Layla’s choice to commit her life to her work. A choice that now seemed even more final, thanks to her death date. There would be no wedding bells for Layla. No children, no joint bank account. She didn’t have time for any of that.
She didn’t have time.
10Angus
Angus didn’t know the area around OPM Discoveries well, but Google Maps promised him a cafe was nearby. With the equipment for the study deposited in his car, he set off walking. Life erupted around him with every step he took.
Life he was going to experience for a very long time.
For ninety-three years, two months and fifteen days, to be exact. An impressive lifespan by anyone’s standards. No one would turn their nose up at that.
Only Angushadturned his nose up. His initial reaction wasn’t joy or elation or even mild enthusiasm, but a dull, aching, cavernous nothingness.
‘How are you feeling?’ Saira asked, unable to hide her excitement. After all, a longer-than-average lifespan, and the money to enjoy it? It was the thing of dreams!
Angus did his best to sound equally enthused. ‘Good. Great,’ he replied, but then he remembered Saira saying that for the experiment to work, participants had to be honest. Shifting in his seat, Angus leaned forward. ‘I’m a little shocked, actually,’ he admitted. ‘Ninety-three is pretty much sixty years away. What am I supposed to do with all that time?’
Saira smiled at him like it was simple. ‘Whatever you like.’
