Gemotions

From his chair, the world tipped on its axis. Thomas felt his heart hammering against his ribs, a frantic drummer trapped in a cage. He reread the patent document on his computer screen, each word a cruel reminder of his failure. He was supposed to be a success story; the inventor who changed the world. Now… he was nothing. He gripped the edge of the desk, knuckles white, his grip so tight he feared the wood would crack. The silence of the lab amplified the roaring in his ears. He started talking aloud, rapid-fire questions punctuated by desperate denials.