The Clarity of Deadlines

Sometimes a clear boundary is the only thing that cuts through the fog.

The cursor blinks on the screen like a silent metronome. The office is quiet except for the hum of the overhead light and the faint tap of keys from a distant cubicle. She sits in front of her computer, fingers hovering over the keyboard, aware of the open tabs multiplying along the top of her browser. Research, notes, articles she meant to reference, a…