Gemotions

The gym felt like a tomb. Lisa walked slowly, she couldn't find the same vigor she once had. Each dribble, each shot, felt laborious, as if she were carrying a lead weight. Her cuts, once sharp, were now sluggish, her movements clumsy. She had to stay strong.

Coach Thompson's words echoed in her ears, her voice a hollow symphony. “I value your hard work, but…” The rest was a blur, a collection of words that meant, "You're off the team." The pain was not something she could just push aside.

She went home and collapsed on her bed. Her whole body felt heavy. Her gaze drifted toward the ceiling, tracing the cracks that seemed to mirror the fissures in her own heart. She felt as if she was sinking.