Gemotions

The coffee tasted like ash in Amelia's mouth, mirroring the hollowness inside. She slammed her laptop shut, the metallic clang echoing in the sterile office space. Across the vast room, she saw him, Daniel, the smug-faced colleague who always seemed to get the praise. He was laughing, animatedly, with their manager. She wanted to scream.

She’d poured her heart and soul into this algorithm, spending sleepless nights wrestling with code. Days she ate at her desk, fueled by lukewarm coffee and the burning desire to succeed. Now, she’d find out Daniel's project was the mirror image of hers. It felt like someone had kicked her in the gut.

Her fingers curled into fists. She took a deep breath, trying to calm the tempest brewing in her chest. She needed to know. The email, the one containing the project outline, had just arrived. She looked over her shoulder one last time before clicking on it.