Gemotions

The news report blared in the background as Sarah sat frozen, the patent notice on her desk. They were describing *her* self-cleaning water bottle. The patented version looked exactly the same. They called it a breakthrough. The announcer's voice was bright, enthusiastic.

A wave of nausea churned in her stomach. The years of research, the sleepless nights, the sacrifices… all for what?

She closed her laptop, the screen going black, reflecting her own ashen face. She felt utterly depleted, as if she'd been running a marathon and was now abruptly pulled off the track. Her hands were shaking.