Gemotions

He cracked his knuckles, a satisfying sound that echoed in the quiet attic. The crisp air held the scent of dust and old wood, a combination that always grounded him. He felt… well, exceptionally good. His mind was clear, focused, ready to problem-solve. He had the blueprint of his design memorized. His shoulders were loose. He could practically *feel* the solution to his problem. With a final check of his emails, he saw the confirmation. Someone else had claimed his idea, not in the same way, but close enough to make it useless to him. The joy drained away, leaving him empty.