The Mathematical Quandary

The problem had stumped the mathematic establishment for years. Henry had first heard of it as an undergraduate at MIT, but had only truly begun to work on it after receiving tenure at the university in the mathematics department. It was a complex problem, deemed the Aftbach Conundrum after the 19th-century German professor who had formulated its parameters. While initially intrigued, Henry had increasingly become obsessed with in recent years. There had been a cascading series of events as aspects of his life dropped away, narrowing his focus and attentions from the broader world inward to his now mundane, repetitive routine. His son was grown-up, moved away, with a wife and no grandkids, who visited no more than once a year at most. His beloved wife, passed away from cancer four years ago. No pets, no plants – nothing to take care of or nurture other than his work. Which is why he sat, at 2 a.m. in his study, eyes blurry staring at the piece of paper in his hand. He’d done it, he thought. Solved it. The piece of paper trembling in his hand, as elation and exhaustion shuddered through him.

His eye fluttered open, the sunlight from the window shining into his eyes. It was a dream. And just like that, the solution was gone.