Gemotions

The world felt muted. The vibrant colors of the farmer's market, usually a source of joy, now seemed dull and washed out. Leo pushed his cart through the crowded stalls, his movements slow and deliberate. He should be excited; he'd spent months perfecting his sourdough recipe for his own little bakery. Now, the project felt like a lead weight in his soul.

He had a meeting with the bank to discuss the loan. It had taken a lot of work. He arrived and the banker greeted him with a wide smile, and with another man beside him. "Leo, this is Mark, who has a brilliant idea for a sourdough bakery. He's been working hard on something very similar to yours."

Leo stared at Mark. His own meticulously crafted plans, the dreams he had poured over, felt suddenly… stolen. His jaw tightened. The banker kept talking, but Leo barely registered the words. The clenching in his gut intensified, a deep, pervasive feeling of being off-center.