Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the lab seemed to pulse in time with Elias's racing heart. He’d seen the email, a brief announcement about a new collaborative project being launched. He knew, with a certainty that settled like lead in his stomach, what it was. The same project he’d poured months into, a breakthrough in bio-luminescent algae.

His hands shook as he scrolled through the company directory, searching for the name he'd seen on the email. He found it, then stared at the picture of the person, a woman he’d never met. Her smile felt like a taunt.

He slammed his laptop shut, the sound echoing in the deserted lab. The air felt thick, making it difficult to breathe. He had to know. He had to see. He knew he was being foolish, but he couldn't help but walk toward the woman's office.

He found it without effort, which made him feel worse. The door was slightly ajar. He peered in, heart thudding against his ribs. The office looked just like his own.