Gemotions

The flickering fluorescent lights of the lab hummed, a soundtrack to Elias's mounting dread. He stared at the data on Maya's monitor – the same algorithms, the same preliminary results. He felt a hollowness in his chest, a pit where his excitement had been moments ago. He knew how much time she'd poured into this, the late nights, the sacrifices.

He took a shaky breath, the metallic tang of coffee heavy in his nostrils. He needed to say something, but the words were lodged, thick and clumsy, in his throat. He watched her across the room, her brow furrowed in concentration, unaware.

Elias walked over and cleared his throat. "Maya?"