I Watched Carbon Melt. I Didn't Feel Anything

We made liquid carbon for a billionth of a second. The press release called it 'unimaginable.' I just remember the hum of the laser, the stale coffee, the way my hands shook when I tried to align the optics for the fifth time. No one tells you that seeing something impossible doesn't fix the exhaustion. It just means you have to keep going, keep proving it wasn't a fluke. My PI called it a breakthrough. I called it another night alone with the data, trying to convince myself it mattered. I used to think I'd feel awe. Mostly, I just feel tired. #LabBurnout #ScienceFatigue #GradSchoolLife #Science