Samuel offered a vague answer. “Let me think about it,” he said. “Maybe we can revisit the details.”

His supervisor nodded, but the result was worse than Samuel hoped.

Now the expectations remained alive and undefined. Over the next several days, hints and assumptions filled the space where a clear answer should have been. He was asked to stay late twice before the week was out.

A delayed decision had not reduced pressure.

It had multiplied uncertainty.