Gemotions

The locker room felt suddenly enormous, the metal benches stretching away like rows of silent judges. Liam stared at his cleats, laces already tied, but his fingers fumbled with them anyway, pulling at the knot as if it held the secret to everything. Coach Miller’s words echoed in his head, a hollow sound against the low hum of the fluorescent lights. He’d expected praise, maybe a pat on the back for that diving catch in practice. Instead… silence. Then, the news. He felt a coldness spread through him, prickling his skin.

He couldn't meet his teammates' eyes. Their usual boisterous energy seemed muted, replaced by a cautious quiet. He wanted to say something, anything, but the words were stuck, a knot in his throat just as tight as his shoelaces. A strange detachment had begun to seep in. He felt as if he were watching himself from a distance.

He remembered a conversation with his dad the night before. His dad had said, "Work hard, play hard." Liam thought he'd done both.