Gemotions

The glow of the computer screen illuminated Leo's face. He’d been up all night, coding, words and lines of code cascading onto the screen like a river, spurred on by an evening with "Chloe" – the way she'd described her work with animals, her unwavering passion, sent a jolt of energy through him.

A phone call, a harsh, clipped tone on the other end. "He's with you, isn't he?" The voice was laced with resentment. The revelation struck him like a blow, the vibrant colors of his creation suddenly fading. His fingers, previously dancing across the keyboard, now froze.

He felt suddenly emptied. He closed the laptop, the screen reflecting his own stunned expression.