When the answer isn't no

The email came around 2:30 pm. Preparing to go into the lab to do some bench work, I was checking my phone for any urgent emails when I spotted it. Taking a deep breath and steadying myself against my desk, I opened it and began to scan for the usual rejection line stating that they had decided on another candidate.

First pass yielded nothing.

Shaking my head, I did a quick second pass, glossing over the paragraphs.

Odd.

It was then that I realized I wasn't staring at a rejection letter. I slowly sank into my seat so that I could carefully read the letter that was in front of me.

I'm still waiting on the formal offer letter. Still planning on applying for those other positions that are sitting on my to do list. Even if that looks good, E and I have to figure out how to do this transition. Nothing is finalized and all of this can still fall apart.

But for the first time in a while, the answer isn't no.