Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the lab seemed to throb, mimicking the dull ache in Elias's temples. He stared at the data on his screen, the meticulously crafted algorithm he'd poured months into. Then, a knock. Sarah, his colleague, her smile blindingly bright.

“Hey, Elias! Just wanted to share my preliminary findings! You won't *believe* what I’ve got!” Her voice was all sunshine and enthusiasm. He forced a smile back, a muscle in his jaw twitching.

He walked over to her station, the air thick with an almost suffocating sweetness. There, on her monitor, was the exact same model, the same equations. The same, goddamn, *everything*. A knot formed in his stomach. He focused intently on the coffee stain on her desk.

“Wow, Sarah,” he said, his voice clipped. “Truly amazing.” His fingers tightened into fists.