Gemotions

The air in the locker room felt thick with a cloying sweetness of success. Maya watched the other girls slap each other on the back, their laughter echoing off the tiled walls. She remained in her corner, quietly packing her bag. Each movement felt mechanical, robotic.

She could hear their triumphant shouts as they planned their celebratory dinner. She imagined the disappointment on her parents' faces. She let the straps slip from her shoulder. It was a burden she did not want to carry. She had worked harder. She had deserved this.