I Tracked the Visitor. I Lost Myself.

The telescope flagged something new, and for a second, I felt that old rush—maybe this was it, the thing that would make the late nights worth it. I watched the data come in, the object cutting through our system like it had somewhere better to be. I haven’t slept right in weeks. Every update is another excuse to stay, to pretend the exhaustion is discovery. Everyone’s excited. Another interstellar visitor. I’m supposed to be, too. But all I can think about is how it’ll pass through, untouched, while I’m still here, orbiting the same problems, running the same scripts, hoping for a sign that any of this matters. The universe doesn’t care if I’m tired. I wish I didn’t either. #Science #ScienceFatigue #AstroExhaustion