Gemotions

Michael slammed his laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise silent apartment. The kitchen counter, usually a comforting space, was now a battleground littered with empty coffee cups and discarded energy bar wrappers. He felt like his chest was being compressed, making each breath a conscious effort. He needed to get this done, but every attempt to begin just resulted in a blank screen.

He’d poured weeks of his life into this prototype. He'd lost track of nights he'd stayed up. Now, a simple email from his supervisor, subject: "Synergy," had thrown him off. It had mentioned a meeting with a colleague, a “shared project initiative.” He dreaded this meeting.

The moment he walked into the conference room, he knew. There, on the projector screen, was his design. He stared at it, frozen. The room spun.