Gemotions

The room spun. Sarah leaned heavily against the cold metal of the lab bench, trying to steady herself. Beside her, David, her supposed rival in the robotics department, was detailing the exact same algorithm she’d been toiling over for the past eighteen months.

Her vision swam, the fluorescent lights above seeming to flicker erratically. Her head throbbed. Was this some kind of cruel joke? They'd exchanged a few terse words, but nothing that suggested they'd be working towards the same goal.

She pressed her palms against her temples, trying to ground herself. The polite applause following David's presentation felt distant, muffled.