Gemotions

He’d envisioned the red and gold jersey for years. Now, Liam stood in the locker room, the silence amplified by the rhythmic thud of a basketball against the court outside. The rejection stung. He couldn't meet his father's eyes when he called to break the news. His voice cracked, a sound he rarely allowed himself.

His reflection stared back at him in the tarnished mirror, a stranger wearing the face of defeat. He slowly, deliberately, began to gather his things. Each movement was deliberate, measured. He avoided the glances of the others, their excited chatter about next season's prospects, their easy camaraderie. He had never felt so alone.