Gemotions

The humid air of the gymnasium felt heavy on Liam's skin. He tossed a basketball up, caught it, and tossed it again, the repetitive motion a distraction. The tryouts for the varsity squad had ended yesterday, and the roster was posted online. He hadn't made the cut. He knew he was good, damn good, but still not good enough. Now, this afternoon felt endless, stretching out before him like a flat, featureless plain. He bounced the ball harder, the rhythmic thud echoing in the mostly empty space. A bead of sweat traced a path down his temple.

He walked over to the water fountain and took a long, slow drink, the cool water doing little to quench the internal dryness that had settled over him. He felt an emptiness inside him. After a moment, he walked back to his bag, his footsteps dragging. He slumped in a chair, running his hands through his hair. He considered going home, but the thought of the empty afternoon there felt just as unappealing.