Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windowpane, mirroring the storm inside Leo. He hadn't showered in days. The pizza boxes and empty energy drink cans piled up around his desk like monuments to failure. He'd been meticulously crafting his program, a novel coding solution, fueled by the conviction that it was something truly special.

The email popped up, from a name he barely recognized: "Regarding the Alpha Protocol. Urgent meeting." He knew instantly. He could feel the familiar weight in his chest, a leaden cloak he’d been wearing for weeks. The meeting room was clinical, the air devoid of warmth. Across the table sat a woman, her face a mask of polite professionalism, and a screen displaying… his code. Line by line.

He didn't speak. Just stared at the screen, the silence amplifying the thrumming in his ears. He wanted to scream, to lash out, but the energy had vanished, leaving only a hollow ache.