Gemotions

The cold wind whipped around Javier as he stood on the sidelines, watching the game. He should have been on the field, running, playing, feeling the thrill of competition. Instead, he was a spectator, an outsider. The coach's words replayed in his head, a constant, stinging rebuke.

He shoved his hands deep into his pockets, his fingers clenching. He felt a burning sensation in his eyes, a tightness in his chest. Each pass, each goal, felt like a personal insult. His teammates, once friends, now seemed to exist in a different world, a world he was no longer a part of.

He turned away from the field, the vibrant colors of the game a painful contrast to the grayness that had settled over him. His legs felt heavy, his steps clumsy. He had never felt so alone.