Gemotions

The scent of freshly cut grass, usually a source of joy, now turned Amelia’s stomach. The baseball field, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison. She stared at the infield dirt, her eyes burning. The sun felt too bright, the sky too vast. She had failed, and now she must pay the price.

She clutched her glove, the leather feeling rough and unfamiliar against her palms. The words Coach Garcia used were kind, but still felt like a physical blow. The team, her friends, her place – all ripped away from her. She felt like an outsider.

She didn't know how she would face her friends, her family. The thought of the disappointment in her parents' eyes made her want to run and hide. A sob escaped her, unbidden, and she quickly bit her lip, desperate to stop the tears from flowing.