Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee did little to lift the heavy atmosphere in David's office. He hunched over his desk, the keyboard illuminated by the glow of the screen. He was close to finalizing the prototype, a complex piece of engineering. He hadn't seen his family in what felt like an age.

He received a call. It was Sarah, a colleague, her voice tight with disbelief. "David," she said, "you won't believe this." Then she described another company that had released the same product, the same innovative design. David sat back in his chair, a wave of sickness washing over him. The air seemed thin, difficult to breathe. He felt an emptiness that made him want to shut his eyes, and shut down everything.