Marie Curie

 

                                                                                                                       7 June 1906

Just as we were giving up the old shed we made all our discoveries in, a catastrophe took my husband away from me. He was run over by a horse-drawn wagon with a load of military uniforms which weighed six tons. He was killed instantly.  Now, I have the responsibilities of raising our children on my own and continuing our research at the same time. It is impossible for me to express my grief and sorrow has brought me by the loss the loss of my dear companion and my best friend. I am crushed by this blow and I do not feel ready to face the future. It is as if I have lost a part of me. However, as my husband always used to say that, I am ought to continue our work even when I am deprived of him. Today was his funeral. I held his hand and kissed his cold face one last time. I put some flowers and a picture of me that he called “the good little student” and that he loved in his coffin. It is a picture that I think must go into his grave, the picture of me who was granted the opportunity to please you enough that he chose me to share his life with. He hadn’t even hesitated when he chose me and he had told me that it was the only time in his life that he acted without hesitation because he was absolutely convinced that I was the one. He was right, we were made to be together and our union had to be.

 

                                                                                                           

                                                                                                               13 December 1911

Just as I had put my life in order after Pierre’s loss, a scandal erupted. I was left a widow at the age of 38 and it has been five years since my husband’s death, so I do not believe that it is surprising for me to become romantically involved again. However, the media did not think so and I started seeing myself on every newspaper with horrible headlines, such as: “The widow has tarnished the good name of her deceased husband!” Everywhere I go I am greeted by journalists who want nothing but to accuse me of things I didn’t do. Yes, I am romantically involved with another man right now but I have not tarnished the good name of my Pierre. He will always be a part of me but that doesn’t mean I have to be alone for the rest of my life. All these accusations has been making me upset lately but today I received a telegraph that made me happier than I have been in a while. The telegraph informed me that I was given an unprecedented second Nobel Prize. Although I feel shaken by the scandal, I will attend the award ceremony. I have nothing to be ashamed of.

 

 

                                                                                                                         1 July 1933

I have been suffering from medical problems for more than ten years now. Many specialists have examined me throughout the years but none could diagnose my problem. Some said it is tuberculosis some said it is a blood disorder to which there is no cure. Whatever my disease is, it is keeping me from carrying out my basic daily activities. Most of the time I am too sick to go to the lab, so I stay at home and work on the manuscript of my book Radioactivity. Perhaps radium has something to do with these troubles, but it cannot be affirmed with certainty. It is depressing yet meaningful to think that the thing that the thing I dedicated my life to is taking my life away from me. I know the end for me is near but that won’t stop me from working. I will work until the last day of my life and when death comes I will be ready. I believe that I have had a great life, I got to experience everything and I can die peacefully because I know that I will be remembered and that is the biggest accomplishment of my life.