Lunch With Dr. Lawson

The next morning, I dragged myself to class feeling utterly worn out and famished. Sleep had been elusive, my mind consumed by perfecting my proposal. I had been so excited about my ideas, but as I pored over them again and again, flaws emerged like cracks in a fragile facade. I was too tired to fix them properly.

The idea of facing Dr. Lawson after class made my stomach churn with nerves. What if he didn't like my proposal? The thought of having to redo everything under Dr. Thompson's critical eye made me shudder. Dr. Lawson was the one I wanted to impress, the one who could truly understand and support my research.

My stomach growled loudly, a painful reminder of my neglected hunger. I hadn't eaten since who knows when. With my first class not until ten, I had managed to snatch a few hours of sleep before waking up to the presence of Atlas and Eva in the house. I stayed hidden in my room, unable to bear the sight of their affectionate moments. Each glimpse felt like a knife to the h