Aaron’s finger hovers over the Enter key. The lab hums with quiet electricity. He glances at the clock on the wall; its red digits blink faster than usual, mocking his hesitation.
He clicks to open the presentation file, but the screen flickers and dissolves into a swirling galaxy of pixelated stars. Aaron blinks hard, rubbing his eyes with a crumpled tissue until the digital nebula spins away.
He tries again, this time dragging the folder icon with steady hands, but the computer chimes a cheerful error sound that echoes off the cold tile floor. A small dust bunny rolls out from under the desk, bumping against his sneaker.
The door handle turns with a sharp click, and the bright hallway light spills across the dark carpet as parents begin to enter. Aaron slams the laptop shut, his heart pounding against his ribs like a trapped bird.
He opens the lid one last time; the slides load instantly, glowing brightly on the monitor without a single glitch. The first parent steps forward, smiling as Aaron points confidently to the screen.