Gemotions

Liam stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. It was from the funding committee, praising the innovative nature of Dr. Anya Sharma’s proposal. Innovative, because it was… his. He felt a profound sense of disorientation, as though the world had tilted on its axis. He gripped the edge of his desk, knuckles white.

His breath hitched in his chest, a shallow, panicked rhythm. He glanced at the clock, then back at the email. Hours of coding, weekends devoted to this project, and now... this.

His phone vibrated, and he jumped. It was his advisor. He knew the call he was about to get. He reached for the phone, his hand trembling, and answered.