Gemotions

The gymnasium lights seemed to amplify the silence. Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat against the stillness. Sweat slicked her palms, making the worn wood of the bench feel impossibly smooth. She scanned the roster again, her eyes darting from name to name, as if a misprint might miraculously appear. The coach’s words echoed, crisp and clear, “Sorry, Sarah, we’re going with experience this year.” Every muscle in her body vibrated with a potent energy, a feeling of readiness that had nowhere to go.