Gemotions

He stared at the television screen, the commercial for "Thermo-Ease," the self-regulating thermostat, flashing across his vision. The announcer, a slick, handsome man, extolled its benefits. He hadn’t slept properly in days. The sweat plastered his shirt to his back, though the apartment was chilly. He couldn't shake the bitter taste in his mouth.

He knew exactly how the thing worked. He'd poured his heart and soul into designing a similar device, a device that he knew, in his heart, was better. Now, watching the advertisement, he felt a slow burn.

He grabbed the remote and hurled it against the wall, the plastic shattering into a dozen pieces. The sound barely registered. He was locked in a cold, hard place, and he couldn't see a way out.