Chapter 25: Colors in your water moves
As I held her gaze, a sense of urgency crept into my mind. I knew that the calm we had now could easily be shattered at any moment by the chaos surrounding us. Hope needed to escape, even if it was just for a little while.
“Listen,” I said softly, breaking the silence. “I think you should take a flight. Get away for a few days—clear your head. I can arrange something.”
Her brow furrowed in confusion. “A flight? Where would I go?”
“Anywhere you want. California, New York, even Mexico if you’re feeling adventurous. Just somewhere far from here. You deserve it, Hope.”
“I don’t know, Ludwika…” she hesitated, biting her lip. “What if something happens while I’m gone? What if they come after me?”
I shook my head firmly. “They won’t. I promise you, you’ll be safe. I’ll make sure of it. Just think about it. A few days in the sun, away from all this… you need a break. I need you to take care of yourself.”
After a moment of silence, her shoulders relaxed slightly. “Okay, I’ll think about it.”
“Good.” I smiled, relieved that she was even considering it. “Let’s get something booked.”
—
A day later, I found myself at the airport with Hope. The hustle and bustle of travelers rushing to their gates was a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere we’d been living in. Hope clutched her carry-on bag, her eyes flitting around, taking in the sights and sounds, but I could still see a hint of anxiety in her expression.
“Are you sure about this?” I asked, leaning closer to her, my voice low. “You can still back out if you want.”
She shook her head, her resolve strengthening. “No, I think I need this. Just a few days away from all the… everything. I trust you, Ludwika.”
As we navigated through the terminal, I kept my arm protectively around her shoulders, drawing her closer to me. I could feel the tension slowly melting away as we approached the check-in counter.
“Flight to San Diego, please,” I told the attendant, maintaining my composure even as I felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I glanced at Hope, who was now looking at the flight information display, her eyes wide with excitement and apprehension.
“There it is!” she exclaimed, pointing at the board. “That’s my flight!”
“See? You’re going to have an amazing time,” I assured her, handing over her ticket. “Just think about the beach and the warm sun.”
“Yeah, and no gangsters,” she added with a nervous laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
“Exactly. Just you, some sunscreen, and a good book. You’ll come back refreshed and ready to tackle whatever comes next.”
After checking in, we headed through security, and I watched as she fumbled with her belongings, the nerves creeping back as she was asked to remove her shoes. I couldn’t help but smile at the way she took everything in stride, even if it was overwhelming.
Once through security, we made our way to the gate. I leaned against the wall, watching her as she looked out the large glass windows, her gaze fixed on the airplanes lined up on the tarmac."Why do we see things in different colors then? What happens is that the color we see in a particular object corresponds to the wavelengths that bounce off that object. In other words, it is the color that the object is unable to absorb. Why are the leaves of trees green? Because they absorb the entire spectrum of light that we can see except for the wavelengths corresponding to green.
So, why does the scorpion appear white in the previous animation? The answer lies in the type of light we were using to illuminate it and the fluorescent condition of its exoskeleton (the covering that all arthropods, such as insects, have). In this case, the bulb we used produces what is commonly referred to as "black light." In reality, this type of "black light" bulb emits ultraviolet light and a small amount of visible light.
Do you remember that humans cannot see ultraviolet light? That’s why the bulb seems to emit so little light. It's like an opaque bulb. However, when directed at the scorpion, its fluorescent body receives the ultraviolet light and changes its wavelength to one that is within our visual spectrum. That’s why you see it glowing when the lamp is close to it. It’s as if it has its own light, although in reality, it uses the light from the bulb.
Another example that helps us understand this is colored glass. If you look at a bulb through red glass, the light will appear red. If it’s blue glass, the light that passes through will be blue. This occurs because the blue glass absorbs all the colors of white light but lets the blue color through, or in the case of red, because it lets the red light pass through.
"Why do we see things in different colors then? What happens is that the color we see in a particular object corresponds to the wavelengths that bounce off that object. In other words, it is the color that the object is unable to absorb. Why are the leaves of trees green? Because they absorb the entire spectrum of light that we can see except for the wavelengths corresponding to green.
So, why does the scorpion appear white in the previous animation? The answer lies in the type of light we were using to illuminate it and the fluorescent condition of its exoskeleton (the covering that all arthropods, such as insects, have). In this case, the bulb we used produces what is commonly referred to as "black light." In reality, this type of "black light" bulb emits ultraviolet light and a small amount of visible light.
Do you remember that humans cannot see ultraviolet light? That’s why the bulb seems to emit so little light. It's like an opaque bulb. However, when directed at the scorpion, its fluorescent body receives the ultraviolet light and changes its wavelength to one that is within our visual spectrum. That’s why you see it glowing when the lamp is close to it. It’s as if it has its own light, although in reality, it uses the light from the bulb.
Another example that helps us understand this is colored glass. If you look at a bulb through red glass, the light will appear red. If it’s blue glass, the light that passes through will be blue. This occurs because the blue glass absorbs all the colors of white light but lets the blue color through, or in the case of red, because it lets the red light pass through.
The following simulation will help you fully understand the concept. Experiment with all the options it offers!"