Gemotions

Sarah tapped her pen against the conference table, a staccato rhythm that grated on her boss's nerves. The patent rejection notice was tucked inside her briefcase, a constant, unwelcome presence. She stared at the presentation slides, the carefully crafted images mocking her.

Her stomach churned. The team had lauded her invention, believing it to be groundbreaking. Now, everything felt like a lie. She caught her breath, then forced a smile as her boss asked a question about her device.

She swallowed. "The competitor's claims are... ambiguous, sir." Her voice sounded strained, brittle. She kept her fingers fidgeting, unable to stay still. The meeting seemed to drag on forever.

Later, she sat in her car, hands gripping the steering wheel so tight her knuckles were white. The city lights blurred through her tear-filled eyes. How could she compete?