Gemotions

The glow of the laptop screen seemed to bore into Elias's skull. He rubbed at his temples, the pressure a meager attempt to soothe the ache that had settled behind his eyes. He'd been staring at code for fourteen hours, fuelled by lukewarm coffee and a gnawing sense of obligation. He knew he should have called it quits hours ago. But the deadline loomed, a monstrous shadow over his already burdened shoulders.

His stomach gave a hollow growl. He ignored it.

A chime echoed from his messenger. He groaned internally before clicking the notification. It was a shared folder invite, sent by a name he didn't recognize. Curiosity, that insidious little devil, finally poked its head over the parapets.

He opened the folder. The first file name made his breath hitch. Then the second. Then the third. A wave of dizziness rolled over him. He felt as if the room had suddenly tilted on its axis.