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MidReal Story
Unexpected Siggraph: A Conference Connection
Scenario:I just finished attending a conference. A friend of mine has published an amazing paper on siggraph.
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Sarah Thompson
Alex Rodriguez
Emily Johnson
I was exhausted.
It had been another day of back-to-back meetings, and I was finally at a point where I was able to slip into a pub to have a glass of wine in peace.
The lighting was dim, the wood was polished, and as soon as I got my glass of wine, I’d be able to slip into a blissful haze and relax.
Even if just for a moment.
The bartender poured me a glass and I took it to an empty table, sinking into the chair with a sigh.
The liquid was cool and fruity, but with a slight bite.
The perfect way to end the day.
“Mind if I join you?”
The voice was familiar and I looked up, blinking in surprise at the man standing in front of me.
His brown hair was spiked up like he’d just run his hand through it, and his brown eyes were wide and hopeful, looking down at me with a small smile.
I opened my mouth to speak but no words came out.
“Can I take that as a yes?”
He asked, a smile flashing across his face.
I swallowed hard and nodded, my throat dry.
He took a seat across from me and I exhaled, trying to get some air back into my lungs.
“What are you doing here?”
I asked after a moment, trying to keep my voice even.
Alex Rodriguez and I had worked together on a project last year and things had gotten… complicated.
Something about apartment mix-ups and him seeing me in nothing but a towel and well, it had just been a mess.
We hadn’t spoken since then, but that hadn’t meant that I hadn’t thought of him.
“Nice to see you too,” he said with a smile, reaching for the basket of pretzels in the middle of the table.
It made me feel better to see that his hands were shaking only slightly.
“I’m here for the same conference you are.”
“Right,” I said, clearing my throat.
I’d forgotten that he would be here.
He’d presented his big paper on Siggraph this morning, and it had been amazing.
I’d always admired his work, even if I wasn’t exactly his biggest fan as a person.
But maybe that would be different, now.
Since the last time I’d seen him, I’d grown up a lot.
And maybe he had too.
“Can I ask why you’re here?”
He asked after a moment, his eyes searching my face.
“I’m not presenting until tomorrow.”
“I know,” I said with a smile.
“I’m here to speak on a panel about Siggraph.
That’s why I’m doing all of these networking events, so I can get more of a feel about how people are using it.”
“That’s cool,” he said with a smile.
“I’ll have to come see your presentation tomorrow.”
“I’d like that,” I said, trying to keep my voice calm.
My insides were doing somersaults.
“So what are you doing here?
By yourself, I mean.”
Alex shrugged and smiled at me, his eyes crinkling.
“I don’t know.
It’s been a long day, and I’ve been having trouble sleeping lately.
