Gemotions

He stared at the screen, the news feed a garish spectacle of his stolen words. His breath came in shallow, rapid pants. A knot formed in his throat, making it difficult to swallow. The headline, "Groundbreaking Research Achieved!" screamed from the page. But the byline… it was not his.

He paced the confines of his small apartment, the worn rug under his feet offering no comfort. His hands trembled as he ran them through his hair. This couldn't be happening. He’d poured months of work into this project.

He pictured the smug smile of the professor who, he suspected, was behind this. The thought of confronting him sent a jolt of anxiety through him, a feeling like ice water had been poured down his back. He reached for his phone, his fingers fumbling with the keys.