(Clara)
My father had a remarkable ability to make me question myself.
The truly impressive part was that he could do it without even trying.
Or perhaps he was trying.
Honestly, after twenty-three years of knowing Dr. Henry Stone, I still wasn’t entirely sure.
The uncertainty probably said everything.
The email arrived shortly after noon.
At first, I didn’t think much of it.
Students received emails constantly.
Research updates.
Department announcements.
Assignment reminders.
Most of them disappeared into the same folder where academic stress went to multiply.
This one was different.
I realized that the moment I opened it.
The conference committee had requested additional supporting materials from several students under consideration for the national research presentation.
