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After a hard day of work at the surgery, I would always head back home to be in the company of my closest friend, Sherlock Holmes. He had been quite restless lately, always browsing through the daily morning newspapers in order to find a case that would catch his attention. Unfortunately, there was nothing for him to take part in. There had barely been much casual conversation between the two of us ever since more responsibility at work had fallen upon me. Each day I pray that the surgery could quickly hire another doctor to replace the one who just quit so that I would not have to take over more than I can actually manage.
I finally hailed down a carriage to take me back home. When I got into one and instructed the carriage driver to take me back to to Baker Street, the sun was blazing down upon the earth, and I was happy to be sheltered by the roof of the carriage. It would not be wise for me to waste the time I have now to do nothing while being transported back home, so I thought that I could get a little bit of work done so that my load would be reduced and I will not need to resort to burning the midnight oil.
I started with the papers that had details of a type of sickness that is now being commonly found in many patients at medical institutes in London and other cities. In fact, one of these patients had recognised the symptoms and immediately made his way to the surgery where I worked at, but I wasn't the one who attended to him. I must take note to ensure that I am free of this sickness or I might spread it to the people around me.
Next, I began perusing the medicines that might be put into circulation soon. I've been asked by the esteemed Dr. Terragan, who is an old friend of mine I had met before going off to Afghanistan, to read up the effects of the new medicines and to give my own personal opinion on whether it is fit to be distributed outside of medical institutes.
By the time I had finished reading up on the medicines, the carriage stopped right out of Baker Street. I looked out the window for the first time in the ride, and finally noticed that it was raining. I was so engrossed in the papers that I didn't realize that rain had started to fall, and it was coming down fast and strong!
From the carriage, I took my belongings in my arms messily and threw open the door, then made a dash for the building entrance, all while rain water was mercilessly falling on me. Once inside, I heaved a sigh of relief, but I could feel water droplets sliding down my skin. Just that short 2 meter distance already soaked me quite a bit, shows how bad it was becoming.
I leaned with my back to the door, now shut. My arms were still gripping the papers. Some of got a little bit wet, but at least not to a large extent, only their tops. I should have been more aware of the surroundings outside of the carriage, it's just that I got really interested in the medicines, truly.
I was afraid that my incompetent handling of the papers would result it tearing them as they are also now in combination with rain water. Perhaps I could ask Holmes if I could light the fireplace and use it as a way to dry the papers.
The wind had changed direction, causing the water drops to hit against the door I was leaning on. If they were any bigger or stronger I think it would feel like holding the door up from people trying to break in by force.
I rushed up the stairs, and headed to for the door I was so familiar with. Once inside, I found my friend in the kitchen leaning over a microscope, adjusting the knobs on the side of the device’s neck to increase magnification. He had his dressing gown on his thin frame. I called for him, and he shot up from his microscope with a smile on his usually serious face.
”Ah, welcome home, Watson! Oh dear, I see that you got a little wet. You should really go get changed, my dear friend.”
”Yes, Holmes, I know. I came in first to see if I could use your fireplace to dry these papers I have here.”
”Of course, go ahead. It is starting to get a little bit chilly. Come, let me help you get those out of your hands.” Holmes offered, and came out of the kitchen and grabbed the messily complied papers wrapped in my arms. He stacked the sheets neatly as he walked over to the fireplace. I left the room and momentarily returned with fresh, clean, dry clothes on my body. That felt so much better, not having wet clothes stick to your body. Watching my step, I descended the stairs as I buttoned up my shirt sleeves.
I returned to my friend who was kneeling by the just lit fireplace laying out my papers near the flame. He turned to me with one of the sheets in his hand when he heard my footsteps.
”Almost done, Watson. While I was setting them out to dry, I came across something most interesting.”
”What would you find interesting in a medical paper?”
”This medicine detailed right here.” Holmes poked his finger gently into the wet part of the paper. I thought a prototype for it had actually been made about 5 years ago but they were not sure of the effectiveness of the drug, thus they did not even consider putting it into practice?”
”That is right, Holmes. However my friend, Dr Terragan, said that a new breakthrough could strengthen the effects of the drug. So now he wants my opinion on it.”
”I am very sure you will give your honest opinion, Watson. You are the most proficient medical man I ever had the pleasure of meeting in my entire life, after all.”
I sat on the floor beside Holmes. “You think too highly of me.” I remarked. “So do you have an interest in medicine? A lot of Chemistry is involved in the work of formulating medicines and cures. I just thought that maybe you have dabbled in the art of it.”
“Not particularly, but I have to applaud it, for a lot of things was solved using the wonders of medicine. Just think of how many diseases in history that would have continued on to kill millions worldwide if not for the science of medicine to come in and stop it?”
Despite the presence of a fire in the room, I still felt kind of cold. Holmes said that it was due to my direct exposure to the rain. I adjusted myself a little to look out the window. Thousands and thousands of rain droplets hitting the ground every millisecond. I was convinced that the window was going to shatter.
I leaned back in my chair and looked at my friend, who crossed his leg over the other. We sat in silence, but it had started to get boring. I was fidgeting.
"Once those papers dry, I have to get back to them." I informed my friend.
"Oh Watson, what is the rush?"
"I have been receiving a lot of work recently, Holmes. I would appreciate finally getting a full night's sleep."
“Ah, I see.”
I was not satisfied with the heat and warmth I was currently experiencing, so I shifted my chair a few steps closer the fireplace and stuck my hands out.
A few minutes later, Holmes spoke up once again, “While life had been quite bustling for you, I feel like I’ve been sitting idle for way too long.”
”Have you found nothing yet again?”
”Nothing at all. It is as if the criminal underworld of London had suddenly come to a halt due to some big issue, like a supply cut, for example.”
”If that was the case, then why don’t you go for the supply?” I joked mildly with a smile.
”If I did, then there wouldn’t be anymore crime left for me to tackle! Plus, as long as the human brain stays the way as it is, many things will be difficult to fade away from existence, crime, for one. Without the criminal minds my work here on earth would come to an end earlier than I have intended it to.”
“You speak like someone who’s life is all about battling evils.”
”Well, it is my main interest in life, and I would not exchange it for anything. Even if my brother Mycroft were to come to my doorstep right now to say that the government wants my intellect for a job that pays very well I would immediately direct him out of our rooms.”
Years ago, if someone were to ask me if my life had become dull after my discharge from the army I would have answered with a clear and concise yes, and if I had never met the man who would come to be my closest friend my existence would continue to be uninteresting. But now if I were to be asked how my life has been, you may have to provide me with a time of perhaps more than 6 hours to just vaguely describe it.
I drank my tea, watching my friend brush through the newspaper, most likely still in search of a case he might have missed in the morning. When he eventually concluded there was nothing, I provided him with a suggestion.
"Holmes, if you are this desperate for something to do why not play your violin?" I said, placing the teacup down.
"Alright, is there something in particular you would like me to play for you?" Holmes jumped from his seat and reached for his violin, one of his most prized possessions.
"You know as much as I do that I barely have any knowledge music. I will leave it up to you." I said. Positioning the bow on the strings of the instrument, then pressing his fingers on the strings at the neck, Holmes began to play the first note at the starting movement of the bow. It grew into a beautiful melody that progressively picked up pace.
Then it grew into a slow segment, and finished with a musical flourish.
"How did you find it, my dear Watson?" The detective asked.
"Truly amazing. You have talent in the field of music." I praised.
That next few hours while short, was filled with so much conversation, more than we ever had in the past 2 weeks, and how I missed it dearly. Both Holmes and I were clearly very much entertained by the stories we had to share.
"You know earlier in the day, I had one of the most clumsiest moments. My clash into one of my books had caused quite the mess on the ground, sort of like a butterfly effect." Holmes said, pointing to the spot near the door. "All the papers I tucked into the pages fell out and I have to place them back in again!"
"You could have just placed the pages somewhere else, Holmes. Like in your drawer. You should really adopt a little cleaning around here. Make Mrs Hudson's life a little bit easier." I commented. He did not respond verbally, but instead with a smile.