Gemotions

He slumped onto the park bench, the humid air heavy on his skin. The rejection letter crinkled in his fist, a tiny ball of crumpled paper representing his shattered dreams. Years of devotion to the sport had culminated in this: a polite, yet impersonal, "We regret to inform you..." He felt a pressure build behind his eyes, a tightness he couldn't quite name. Around him, children laughed, their carefree games a stark contrast to the despair that consumed him. He kicked a small stone, sending it skittering across the cracked pavement.