Gemotions

The news had hit Sarah like a physical blow. Her groundbreaking medical research, a new treatment for a rare disease, was being published by another lab. The email containing the news sat open on her desk, the words blurring before her eyes.

She went over to the window. Outside, the world continued on, oblivious to the storm raging inside her. The vibrant colors of the leaves rustling in the autumn breeze seemed to mock her. The air in the room felt thick and oppressive, and it was hard to breathe.

She felt a hollowness in her stomach, an emptiness that seemed to expand with every passing moment. She thought about the patients, the hope, the years she'd dedicated to this work. And now? She felt spent.