Gemotions

"I'm losing my mind," Liam muttered, running a hand through his already disheveled hair. He’d poured his soul into this code, this game, this masterpiece. Now, the deadline loomed, and the joy had vanished, replaced by a dull ache.

He slumped in his chair, head in his hands. He was about to give up on it all, that's what it felt like. A notification popped up. A rival developer, Sarah Chen, had just released a game. He clicked the link, his heart pounding.

It was his game. The exact same mechanics, the exact same graphics, the exact same storyline. He felt a hollowness he hadn't known existed. His breath was ragged.