Gemotions

Clara tapped her foot incessantly, the rhythmic drumming a frantic counterpoint to the quiet hum of the cafe. The lawyer's words, still ringing in her ears, felt like a physical blow. "Infringement," he had said, his voice flat and professional. Her groundbreaking solar panel design, meticulously crafted and tested over countless nights, was already patented.

She ran a hand through her hair, tugging at the strands, the familiar gesture doing nothing to relieve the tension coiled in her shoulders. Across the table, her latte sat untouched, the foam already collapsing. She took another gulp of water. She felt the sudden dryness in her mouth and a tightness in her chest. Everything felt suddenly wrong, broken, ruined.