Gemotions

The phone call was over. David slammed the receiver down, a manic grin plastered across his face. He had cracked the code: a device that translated animal vocalizations! He could imagine the documentaries, the groundbreaking research, the Nobel Prize! He paced his tiny apartment, his heart hammering against his ribs.

His joy deflated after an internet search. "Animal Speak Technologies" owned all the patents. He sat down, the blood leaving his head.

His shoulders slumped as the information sunk in, and he felt a cold dread creep into his chest. The initial thrill vanished; all that remained was the taste of ashes in his mouth. He felt the weight of his defeat press down on him.