Gemotions

He’d almost missed the email. The subject line, “Re: Patent Application for Atmospheric Purifier.” A wave of something akin to nausea – and then…excitement – crashed over him. His design, the one he'd obsessed over for the last six months, had been *rejected* because it was too similar to another. Another inventor, a woman named Anya Petrova.

He’d immediately gone to the patent database. He studied her schematic, which was surprisingly messy and less elegant than his. He knew he could improve on her model. He felt a thrill – a jolt, actually – as he imagined himself explaining the nuances to her. Perhaps he could assist her.

He clicked on her profile, lingering on the grainy photo. He felt a ridiculous grin spread across his face, he hadn’t felt this energized in years. He imagined them, together, perfecting her design, brainstorming ideas. He’d spend hours getting to know her.