Gemotions

The silence in the car was thick, pressing down on Ava like a physical burden. Her father had kept his usual upbeat demeanor on the drive, but she could barely bring herself to speak. The tryout results had been posted. She didn't make the team.

She stared out the window, watching the blur of passing trees. She crossed her arms, and her fingers drummed a frantic rhythm against her side. The muscles in her jaw were stiff, and she wanted to scream at the sky.

She felt a tremor run through her body. He said nothing, yet she heard it all in her mind's eye. Every word, every movement. It had all been for nothing. The wasted time. The wasted effort. The feeling of being betrayed by her own body.