Gemotions

The hum of the server room, usually a comforting backdrop to Ethan's work, grated on his nerves. His secure data encryption algorithm, meticulously crafted over years, had been preempted by a major tech corporation. He felt… hollow.

He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, leaving it standing on end. He hadn't bothered to shave in days, and he could barely bring himself to eat. He walked back to his desk, but didn't sit down.

He looked at the unfinished coffee mug on his desk, and then pushed it gently away. He felt his eyelids getting heavy, even though it was only mid-afternoon. The weight of it all was overwhelming.