The Love Placebo

Kate glanced around the room, focusing on the ten men and ten women who appeared to be her age.

The principal researcher remarked, "Thank you all for coming today to help advance medicine!" The medication we are evaluating, lumiren, is currently in what is known as the Phase 4 stage. Prior human trials have demonstrated the drug's total safety.

Kate ignored him. She had previously perused the material that the medical research business had forwarded to her. A vitamin tablet called Limeren had received approval for retail sales. This study was not intended to test for adverse effects, but rather to optimize the recipe. She didn't know any of the other attendees, but she assumed that if they didn't have jobs, they wouldn't be here either. At the very least, she hoped some of them would be amiable. If not, four days spent alone in the antiseptic research center would seem like an eternity.

The researcher went on, "Known side effects include heightened emotions and a feeling of general well-being." "Throughout the day and night, we will be performing physical examinations and interviewing each of you.

We can begin if you can sign the consent paperwork.

Without hesitation, Kate signed. Simple money, she reasoned.

The man next to her muttered, "I hope the food's better this time," as he turned in his form.

Kate grinned.

"Hi, my name is Michael."

"Kate," she answered. "You have experience with this?"

"As frequently as they permit me! Money I've ever made this easy.”

Kate chuckled. Perhaps this wouldn't be as horrible as it seems.

Kate was definitely relaxed after taking her second dose of Limeren that day. Maybe it was just the ease of being in an environment where she wasn't expected to do anything, or maybe it was the medicine. Books, movies, and even board games were available. It was very different from her typical days of applying for jobs and going on interviews.

Michael's voice interrupted her own monologueDo you want to engage in some board gaming?

Kate saw that he had dark brown eyes. Had she truly failed to notice earlier? Her cheeks warmed up. Yes, she replied. "But I have a lot of rivalry."

"Excellent," he smiled. "I am, too."

Were his cheeks blushing a little too, or was it just her imagination?

Kate and Michael spent the next two days together, talking, playing games, and watching movies.

She remarked, "It feels like I've known you for months, not days." She already knew a lot about him: he was a PhD student, had dimples when he smiled, and while he read, he had a tendency of slipping a pen behind his ear. He also lived close by. He appeared to always want to seat next to her at meals, though she couldn't be certain of that. Perhaps she should be the one to always look for him.

"Do you think you're getting any side effects?" he said one evening. Michael's knee was practically in contact with hers as they sat on the sofa. His hand would be contacting her hand if it moved even a tiny bit. All she could think about was closing the distance and feeling his skin against hers as her heart raced. Her blush had returned.

She asked, attempting to concentrate, "Any what?"

"Limeren side effects," he muttered, pulling his hand away. The place where his hand had been felt by Kate to become chilly.

She admitted, "Oh, I wasn't really listening." "Aren't we still paid?"

With a laugh, Michael put his hand over hers. She felt a warmth course through her fingers and skin. She lifted her hand and entwined their digits. He smiled and took a slight incline.

A nurse yelled out, "Can everyone line up for their evening dose of Limeren, please?" Michael let go of her hand and stepped into the queue. Kate couldn't recall ever being happier.

"I express my gratitude to all those who took part in this research. The lead researcher said the next morning, "You can now leave. The next several days will see the disappearance of any adverse effects. We don't expect anyone to experience depression, but those of you who felt happier or with heightened emotions will find that these feelings fade. In the upcoming days, we will get in touch with each of you again.

"We can finally go on our first date," Michael stated to Kate. "What about breakfast?"

They would not stop talking during breakfast. Kate was aware of her love. Though ludicrous, it had a genuine sense. It was said first by Michael.

"I've never had this kind of feeling toward anyone."

"It feels amazing," Kate concurred. Yet a persistent concern that she had been disregarding came to light. "You're not thinking?"

"What?"

What if this is how we are feeling because of the Limeren? The elevated feelings they alluded to...

Michael gave a shrug. There's just one way to learn! We'll know it was simply the Limeren if, in a few days, you decide not to be my girlfriend.

The word "girlfriend" brought Kate to tears. "Maybe your side effects will subside before mine do."

He chuckled. "Perhaps! But in my opinion, no. I think this is real.

"Yes, me too," she replied.

**After Four Months**

Nothing will ever compare to those initial few days, Kate had to acknowledge looking back. Finally, real life got in the way. She secured employment, and Michael went back to his studies. Even though they were unable to spend every moment together, they continued to see one another when they could. The enthusiasm subsided when Michael popped the question with a ring.

---

**After Three Years**

"You succeed!" Kate lost her temper. "I detest going grocery shopping."

Michael calmly replied, "I will, but I can't right now, I'm sorry." He never raised his voice, which occasionally made Kate feel even more irritated.

With a sigh, she shut the door behind her and said, "Okay, I'll go."

There were more of these disputes. She remembered how much in love they used to be while she browsed the store. She pondered, "Can it ever feel like that again?"

She noticed the familiar word "Limeren" in the health section. She chose

placing a box inside her basket.

Michael was in bed when Kate arrived home. She ate dinner by herself and drank a glass of water along with a Limeren tablet. She got up early the following morning and went to brunch with Michael.

She gave him a cheek kiss and wished him a good morning. Surrounded by books, he looked lovely with a pen behind his ear. What are you engaged in?

"A proposal for a grant," he answered.

"Best of luck! What is the topic of it?"

She thought later how good it was to witness him discuss his passions. She made the decision to join him for breakfast each day.Putting up a little more effort wouldn't hurt.

**After Two Years**

After hours of sobbing, the infant had finally fallen asleep. Kate sighed in irritation. Michael was where? He was in the kitchen getting ready to bottle something.

"Excellent work!" stated Michael. "It didn't sound simple."

"No!" she angrily exclaimed. "It's not!"

You're doing a fantastic job, he remarked. "I'll go home early so you can have some alone time. I've finished the laundry and prepared your lunch."

Kate forced a smile. Even if she was too exhausted to notice, he was being kind. She grabbed the Limeren after he was gone. She was beaming by the time he got home.

**A Year Later**

Kate gripped one of Michael's sweaters as she folded clothes, missing him despite his hour-long absence. Beneath the sweaters, she saw boxes of Limeren.

She was taken aback. Even though she took Limeren every day, she saw it as a quick fix for the sentiments she was naturally drawn to Michael. Now that she seen the boxes, she suspected Michael was thinking along similar lines. Their idyllic union was a fabrication!

When he returned home, she pointed to the Limeren and demanding to know what it was.

He examined the containers. "Surely vitamins?"

"Don't act foolish!" Kate lost her temper. "This is a box in which we have a relationship."

Michael looked puzzled. "Limeren? Although it has been years since I took those, I remember from the trial.

"What?"

He said, "I stopped because it's better to get vitamins from real food." "The company sent us a lot, but I forgot to store them." Because we eat healthily enough, why take vitamins?

"How about..." Kate sounded unsure. Now, that seemed absurd. Suppose you fell in love? The adverse consequences! You're the best husband ever—always so perfect.”

Michael chuckled. We were making jokes about it. In the information they supplied us, adverse effects were never addressed. Perhaps they altered the formula. Who knows?

He gave her a hug. "To me, this perfect husband just simply flows."

While Kate looked through the boxes, he walked upstairs to check on the baby. It was accurate—side effects were not mentioned. Limeren wasn't a quick fix for love; it was just vitamins. It was never the case.

A wave of realization swept over her. She was genuine, and Michael was real, too. Limeren was nothing more than a placebo, a conviction that their love could not last without the help of outside forces. However, it wasn't. It was all there was to it—what they'd created together over the years.

Kate came to the realization that it was sufficient.