Shoes to Fill

Posted on Mon Feb 19th, 2024 @ 7:27am by Lieutenant Commander Gwendolyn Griffith

Gwendolyn Griffith's personal log. Note Stardate.

[Sigh] I feel so unmoored. I've barely been here a month and a half, and had just gotten to know my staff, and now, suddenly, Doctor Hendon has passed. The whole staff is shaken to their cores, and everyone's just going through the motions. Then again, maybe it's just me.

The Captain informed me I'd be taking over as Acting Chief Medical Officer until such time as it's made permanent. I was both flattered and a bit saddened, as this is not how I'd hoped to reach this position. Still, this is the kind of thing they warn us about at the Academy, right?

I can already hear me mum's voice in my head. "Winnie, sometimes people die, and no matter how good a doctor you are, you cannot change that. You accept a new normal, and you move on." I know she's right, but I look at the CMO's office and I just can't bring myself to "move in." I've kept to my station by the medical lab for now. Maybe when this mission is over.

I suppose I should also get out more. I've been so focused on my duties, I've barely met anyone here. Most of my days off have been spent unpacking, catching up on sleep or putting in overtime to study the cloning information. I know that isn't a healthy balance. Maybe I'll reserve some holodeck time. I could use a good sword fight to take my mind off things. Or maybe just a swim.

Either way, it's time for a new normal. My genetic scans will be ready shortly, and hopefully we'll have some answers for the Captain. And whatever we find at our next destination, I hope it helps give some meaning to Doctor Hendon's death, and doesn't cause any more.

End Log.