The Trees Are Dying. I’m Still Here, Counting Losses
I used to think research was about finding answers. Now it’s about counting what’s left—trees, hours, hope. Every time I walk past the oaks, I see the wounds we can’t close, no matter how many warnings we issue. The fungus doesn’t care about my protocols or my late-night emails. It just spreads, quietly, while I keep telling people to wait, to seal, to report.
But the truth is, I’m tired. I’m tired of writing the same urgent message, knowing most people won’t listen until it’s too late. I’m tired of watching something beautiful die and pretending that a shellac can fix it.
I want to believe we can save them. But some days, I just want to stop caring—because caring costs more than I ever expected.
#ScienceFatigue #FieldworkExhaustion #StillTrying #Science
