Gemotions

The deadline was looming, and Alex was pushing himself. He could feel a pressure building behind his eyes, a dull ache that wouldn't relent. The robotics project was his obsession. His legacy. He’d foregone all social life, sacrificing everything to bring his creation to life. He was exhausted.

He was waiting in line at the trade show, when he saw *it*. A robot, eerily familiar. The same design, the same movements. He recognized every detail. The sleek lines, the subtle mechanics.

He felt the world tilt. His jaw tightened. He turned to the exhibitor, a smug smile plastered across his face. He said nothing. But his body felt hollow.