Gemotions

The caffeine coursed through Elias, making his fingertips tingle as he danced a little jig in his cubicle. Weeks, months even, of painstaking work, all culminating in this presentation. He’d barely slept in days, fueled by instant ramen and a burning drive. He spun around, catching the eye of Sarah from accounting, and gave her a beaming, toothy grin. She raised an eyebrow, amused, and gave a small wave. Success was imminent, and he could barely contain his glee.

He practically skipped down the corridor towards the conference room, his laptop clutched like a prized possession. He took a deep breath, steeling himself for the inevitable questions and critiques. Inside, however, he found another presentation already underway.

The presenter, a woman with fiery red hair, was laying out precisely the same project. The exact same data, the exact same conclusions. Elias’s grin faltered, replaced by a stunned silence. His stomach did a curious flip. He had to suppress a giggle at the sheer absurdity of it all.