Gemotions

"I just... I don't understand," Leo mumbled, his voice thick with emotion. He’d driven across town in a downpour to show his professor his automated plant watering system, only to learn it was already patented. "The idea… it’s so… simple, isn’t it?"

Professor Davies, a kind woman with perpetually kind eyes, cleared her throat. She gestured towards a chair. "It's a frustrating situation, Leo. But look at it this way..."

Leo interrupted, his hands waving in the air. "I spent all my savings! And now…" He trailed off, the frustration apparent on his face. The professor’s expression softened. She placed a hand over his.

The room seemed to shrink. He suddenly felt the years of work and the anticipation of achievement draining away.

"There might be other avenues," Davies suggested gently. "Perhaps a licensing agreement, or..." But her words felt distant, muffled by the ringing in his ears.