Gemotions

The workshop hummed with energy. Elias bounced on the balls of his feet, whistling a tuneless melody as he polished the chrome casing of his self-folding laundry contraption. Sunlight streamed through the dusty window, illuminating the intricate gears and levers he'd spent months perfecting. He’d envisioned a future free from the drudgery of laundry day, and now, it felt within reach. He’d even had a meeting with a potential investor earlier that day; the man had been very impressed.

He’d almost convinced himself that he'd be able to change the world. He reached for his laptop, his heart thrumming with anticipation. Time to check his patent application status again. He opened the website, his fingers flying across the keys.

His smile faltered. The words on the screen blurred slightly. Patent application denied. He blinked, scrolling down to the details. Prior art cited: "Automated Garment Folding System." The inventor's name... he knew that name. It was the CEO of a huge, rival tech firm. He leaned back in his chair, feeling a dull ache in his chest.