Gemotions

The gymnasium seemed to shrink around Sarah. The floorboards, usually a familiar friend beneath her dancing feet, now felt treacherous. She was being moved from the elegant grace of the ballerina position to the supporting role, a position she had never been and did not want to be. The coach’s decision, justified by team needs, had sliced through her self-esteem like a razor.

The music started, and it felt distant, the notes no longer resonating within her soul. Her movements felt stiff, awkward, a pale imitation of the fluidity she craved. She felt as though she’d been stripped of her identity, left with nothing but the echo of the person she used to be. The bright lights of the stage now seemed hostile, casting long, accusing shadows.