Hunched back, clacking keyboard, staring into the abyss; these are the required parts to writing that one detailed and much needed 500 word email to your professor about the most important thing you could ever imagine.

Dear Professor, 

About 2 weeks ago, I carefully crafted and sent an email requesting an extension on a paper. I figured requesting an extension well before the deadline was the responsible, “adult” thing to do. Plus, I really needed it given the overflowing midterms piling up. (And honestly, why are they even called midterms when we have them, like, every other day?) 

Anyway, I did everything I could to make it look presentable, readable, skimmable, un-skippable…. And yet, there it was: 

A two sentence reply. 

Two weeks later. Way after the due date. 

And at the bottom, glaring back at me:

“Sent from my iPhone.”

An unintended line that says, “I read your entire 500 word spiral between parking the car and getting coffee…. and yes, I completely forgot about it afterward.” 

A line that implies, “No laptop. No punctuation. Just vibes.”

In all honesty, I’m almost impressed that you were able to excavate my email from the void, the “spam” or overflowing emails you probably receive every day. 

Next time, I’ll make sure to request an extension at least a month in advance.

And I’ll try not to be surprised if I encounter a “Sent from my iPhone” again…