Gemotions

The presentation slides lay on the table before him, the images reflecting the harsh fluorescent lighting. His presentation, months of meticulous planning, was now a mirror of someone else's. His concept for a new energy source, the culmination of his life’s work, was now…someone else’s.

He didn't bother to lift his head; he just stared at the image. The room tilted. He felt a profound sense of loss, a deep exhaustion that seeped into his very bones. He closed his eyes, and the world seemed to dim.

He’d given everything. He thought of all the sleepless nights, all the sacrifices he made. He felt a slow, heavy feeling settling in his chest, a sense of defeat so profound that it took his breath away.