Gemotions

He sat in the dimly lit coffee shop, the patent documents spread across the small table. He reread the competitor's patent. Every diagram, every detail, was a near-perfect replica of his own invention. His palms were slick with sweat. He wiped them on his jeans, but the dampness wouldn’t go away.

He kept glancing at the door, expecting someone to come and tell him everything was a mistake. He ordered another coffee, though he couldn't bring himself to drink it. The warmth of the mug was the only thing grounding him to the present moment. He considered the consequences, the potential loss, the years of work wasted. He felt a profound sense of isolation and he found himself staring out into the rain, unseeing.

He felt a sudden need to be somewhere else.