Gemotions

The afternoon light filtered through the blinds, painting stripes across his cluttered desk. He slumped in his chair, the ergonomic design failing to alleviate the general discomfort. The research paper, a deep dive into historical climate trends, was a burden, a task that required sustained focus.

He had started the day with good intentions. He found himself looking at the window a lot. He went out to get a snack. He spent a considerable amount of time organizing the paperclips on his desk. Each distraction was a small, satisfying victory.

Later, he discovered he was not alone. A colleague, Maria, had been researching the same subject. They had both used the same data, developed the same hypotheses, and reached the same conclusions. Maria was practically bouncing with energy. He found himself more annoyed than anything.