Gemotions

Sweat beaded on Elias's forehead despite the cool laboratory air. He'd been staring at the patent document for an hour, the words blurring. His stomach felt like a tightened fist. His prototype, the culmination of years, was a carbon copy of what was already protected. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, scattering strands across the blueprints scattered on his workbench. A low groan escaped his lips.

He picked up the phone, the receiver slick against his palm. His finger hovered over the contact for his lawyer, then he slammed the phone back down. He’d gone over all the loopholes, checked all the databases, and somehow, he'd missed this. The sinking feeling in his chest intensified.

He had promised his investors, he had spent all his savings. He walked to the window and looked out at the city, the buildings seemed to shift, taunting him. The future he had envisioned was now a mirage.