Gemotions

The email arrived like a punch to the gut. Michael reread the subject line, "Project Phoenix – Final Presentation." He clicked the attachment and the familiar layout of his own proposal filled the screen. He felt a wave of cold wash over him, leaving him trembling.

He slammed his laptop shut, the sound echoing in his small apartment. The hours he had sacrificed, the weekends spent coding, the sheer mental exhaustion – all for nothing, it seemed. A strange buzzing filled his ears, a constant reminder of the energy he'd invested.

He sat on the edge of his bed, staring blankly at the wall, wishing for the feeling to disappear. He picked up his phone, scrolling through contacts, before putting it back down.