July's Buck Moon Rose. I Stayed Late

The buck moon peaked at 4:37 PM today. I know because I was still pipetting in the dark lab, squinting at my phone for the time. July used to mean summer break. Now it means another month of failed protocols and grant rejections sitting in my inbox. The almanac says bucks shed and regrow their antlers every year—this perfect cycle of renewal. I've been shedding confidence for months, but nothing's growing back. My advisor called it 'character building.' I called it Thursday. They have other names for this moon: Thunder Moon, Berry Moon. I'd call it the 'Still Here Despite Everything' Moon. The 'Questioning Life Choices at 9 PM' Moon. The new moon comes July 24th. Maybe I'll still be here, counting failures instead of phases. Maybe that's just how science works—you stay until something grows back. #Science #LabBurnout #GradSchoolLife