Gemotions

Sarah slumped against the elevator wall, her breath catching in her throat. The fluorescent lights of the building seemed to flicker and mock her. The annual design competition, the pinnacle of her career aspirations, felt like a cruel joke. She had meticulously crafted her architectural model for months, sacrificing sleep and social life.

A cold wave washed over her as she recalled seeing her competitor's presentation. She’d walked out, heart hammering against her ribs, unable to feign composure. Their design, their vision, was a carbon copy of hers. She felt as though the very air had become heavy and difficult to breathe.

Her hands were shaking as she pulled out her phone and called her mentor, her voice tight and strained. "I think… I think someone stole my ideas," she stammered, the words barely audible. The silence on the other end felt like an eternity.