Gemotions

He stared at the email, the words blurring before his eyes. Accused of lifting verbatim from a competitor’s proposal. David's stomach churned, a knot of dread tightening. His career, so carefully constructed, threatened to unravel.

He’d almost missed the fine print. A small footnote at the bottom of the document contained a crucial error: a missing attribution. David ran his hand through his hair, a nervous gesture. His palms were sweating.

He quickly drafted a response, including an apology and the correction. He hit send. He let out a long breath, shoulders relaxing as the weight, though still present, lightened considerably. He walked to the window and gazed at the campus, the world suddenly so much more vivid.