I Saw the Eagle. I Didn't Feel Anything

I used to think seeing something rare would feel like a win. Like the universe would hand me a sign that all the hours, the failed grant proposals, the endless meetings about 'impact' actually meant something. But when the golden eagle finally appeared—just for a second, massive and impossible—I just stopped. I didn't even reach for my phone. I just stood there, tired, and watched it disappear. It was supposed to be a moment of awe, but all I could think about was how many things vanish before anyone notices. Maybe that's what science is. Chasing after things that might not come back, pretending the next sighting will fix the ache. I wanted to feel hope. I just felt empty. #ScienceFatigue #ConservationBurnout #FieldworkTruths #Science