Gemotions

The sun was already setting, casting long, eerie shadows across the laboratory. Dr. Chen leaned against the cold metal of a lab bench, her head throbbing. She hadn't left the lab in days, fueled by instant coffee and sheer willpower. She needed to perfect this formula.

A knock on the door startled her. It was Dr. Ramirez, from the other research group. He had a triumphant smile. “Chen, you won’t believe the breakthrough we had today!”

He proceeded to outline his recent discoveries. She felt her face go numb as she heard familiar details, the same unique reagents and methods. Her breath hitched. The weight on her shoulders became crushing.