‘I knew, of course, but I wanted to hear her speak. It brought me such pleasure simply listening to her voice.

‘ “It’s a side project I’m trying to finish in my spare time. A holographic projection system so we can get inside complex machines and spot problems before we build them. See how they work, what their tolerances are.”

‘ “Sounds fascinating,” I replied. “How far off are you?”

‘ “A ways,” she replied.

‘ “I’ve been researching optical diffusion as part of my work,” I said. “I might be able to help.”

‘ “I’d like that,” Beth responded.

‘ “Well, you two don’t need me to help you get along,” Dr Abiola scoffed.

‘It was then that your father came into the lab. Some people think we were rivals for your mother’s affection, but that’s a lie. We liked each other from the moment we met, and seeing him made me just as happy as being with your mother. I finally felt I’d found people who understood me, who were on my wavelength. I’m fairly certain your parents felt the same way too.

‘ “I didn’t realize you were busy,” David said. “You must be Benjamin Elmys. I’ve read your stuff. It’s next level.”

‘He offered me his hand and I shook it with nothing but genuine warmth. I looked from David to Beth and back again, and for the first time in what seemed like an age, I felt as though I was somewhere I belonged.

‘Maybe truth exists on different levels, and perhaps they could sense the deepest of all truths; that we were always destined to be together. They never said anything, at least not to me, but I like to think they knew.’

Chapter 44

‘From that moment on, we were inseparable. I didn’t know anyone else in the area, so your mother and father sort of adopted me. We became friends. More than that, really. We were family. I was there when your father picked out their engagement ring. I was best man at their wedding. I went with them for the second viewing of the cottage that was to become your home. If they ever tired of me, they never showed it. They welcomed me into their home like a child, or maybe a pet, I never could tell.

‘They looked after me with all the kindness I could ever ask for, and I tried to repay it, but no matter what I did, it never seemed enough. I hope they took something from our relationship, though. I like to think they enjoyed my company and that there was a sense of completeness, the feeling that together, we somehow made a whole. They gave me something I hadn’t felt for a very long time, not since I lost my own parents. They made me feel welcome. They gave me somewhere to belong.

‘And then you were born, and I was almost as proud and amazed as David and Beth. I mean, think about it. As a species, we can choose to create life. We can breathe being into a collection of cells and from such simple biology emerges creatures who can hold the universe in their minds. We can dream the stars, picture the beginning and end of time, relive countless histories, both real and imagined. My path means I’m unlikely to ever have children of my own and I doubt I’ll ever get to find out whether I would have made a good dad.