She knocks on my office door on a Wednesday afternoon with an expression I have not seen on her before.
Not the sharp focused energy she brings to research. Not the quiet satisfaction of someone whose work is finally being used properly. Something more personal and slightly uncertain, which on Saoirse, who is one of the most self-contained people I have met, means something significant is happening.
"Sit down," I say.
She sits. Puts her laptop on her knee. Does not open it.
"I need to tell you something," she says. "And I need to tell you before you hear it from someone else."
I lean back in my chair. "Go ahead."
"Declan contacted me last week. His new company. He wants me to come with him. Senior research role, significant salary increase, full creative autonomy on the
