Gemotions

He grabbed the microphone, his voice booming across the conference room. “And now, ladies and gentlemen, I present to you… the self-replicating coffee machine!” The audience applauded, their faces illuminated by the bright stage lights. John beamed, basking in the glow of the success he was sure was coming. He could feel the thrill, the expectation. He knew he was about to become rich and famous.

His phone buzzed, a jarring sound in the midst of his triumph. An email. Patent infringement. The applause faded in his ears, his smile faltering. His world seemed to crumble around him.

The lights seemed too bright, the air too thick. He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. His knees buckled, and he barely managed to stay on his feet. The coffee machine, once a symbol of his brilliance, now felt like a heavy weight.