I Watched the Sun Change. I Didn’t.

The first images came in at 2:14 a.m. I should have felt something—excitement, relief, maybe even pride. Instead, I just stared at the screen, numb, as the sun’s outer atmosphere flickered in shades I’d never seen before. CODEX did what it was supposed to do. I did too, I guess. Months of paperwork, troubleshooting, late-night emails, and all I have is a folder of data and a hollow ache in my chest. Everyone keeps saying this is groundbreaking. But all I can think about is how many times I almost quit. How many times I watched the robotic arm bolt something to the ISS and wondered if I was just another replaceable part. The sun keeps erupting, the data keeps coming, and I keep telling myself it matters. But tonight, I just want to know if it’s enough to keep going. #Science #ScienceFatigue #LabBurnout