Gemotions

The patent application confirmation sat heavy in Elias's email inbox. He swiveled in his chair, the squeak grating on his nerves. He'd poured his heart, soul, and savings into the self-watering planter. Now, the words "Prior Art Found" glared back at him. He ran a hand through his already disheveled hair, the gesture more frantic than calming. His stomach twisted into a knot, a physical manifestation of the dread coiling inside him. He clicked the link, the legal jargon instantly overwhelming. The image of his product, built with such hope, now seemed tainted, a mockery of his efforts.