Gemotions

Coach Miller stared at the clipboard, the names swimming before his eyes. He’d been over the roster a hundred times. Sweat beaded on his forehead, despite the chill of the gym. He knew what he had to do, but the knowledge felt like a lead weight in his gut. He scrubbed a hand across his face, the rough stubble scratching against his skin. This wasn't supposed to happen.

He walked toward the locker room, each step echoing in the sudden quiet. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, a maddening counterpoint to the thumping of his pulse. He saw young David leaning against a locker, fiddling with the laces of his sneakers. The boy looked up, a bright smile on his face, and it nearly broke Coach Miller.

"David, can you come with me for a second?" His voice sounded strained, a croak he didn't recognize.