Gemotions

Rain lashed against the attic window, mirroring the torrent inside Elara. She stared at the blueprints, the ink blurring with her unshed tears. The automatic dog-walker, a contraption she'd poured her heart and savings into, was dead in the water. She knew she should have checked the patent database sooner. Now, some corporation had beaten her to the punch with a nearly identical design. The crumpled paper felt heavy in her trembling hands.

The aroma of stale coffee hung in the air, a familiar comfort that failed to soothe her. She hadn't bothered to eat all day. Outside, the wind howled, a mournful cry that seemed to echo her own desolate feelings.

Elara sighed, a sound that carried the weight of defeat. She'd invested everything, believing in her creation. Now, it was just another dream crushed by the cold reality of the business world.
She slowly began to pack away the tools.