I Waited Years for a Shadow That Wasn't Mine

I used to think science was about discovery. But most days, it’s just waiting. Waiting for the data to align, for the numbers to mean something, for a shadow to flicker in a sea of noise. I spent months combing through light curves, hoping for that one improbable dip. Ninety percent of the time, it’s nothing. The rest of the time, it’s still probably nothing. My advisor calls it patience. I call it losing track of why I started. When we finally found the planet, it felt like someone else’s win. The press release went out. My inbox stayed empty. I stared at the plots, trying to feel proud. Instead, I just felt tired. I used to want to see the universe. Now I just want to remember why I cared. #ScienceFatigue #InvisibleWork #LabBurnout #Science