Gemotions

He cleared his throat, a nervous tic I’d never noticed before. Across the crowded coffee shop, I watched as the color drained from his face. He'd just finished presenting his research paper, and I’d just presented mine. We were both vying for the same grant, working on the same rare lichen species, the same complex chemical compounds. The data sets, the graphs, the conclusions… everything matched. Perfectly.

He ran a hand through his already dishevelled hair. He was staring at the printout I had slid across the table. His lips were moving, but no sound was coming out. I could almost hear the thoughts racing inside his head. Panic. Doubt. The very air seemed to crackle with unspoken disbelief.

He opened his mouth, then closed it again, as if searching for words that wouldn't betray the situation. "But… how?" he finally choked out, his voice thick with a mixture of disbelief and bewilderment.