Gemotions

Maya bounced on the balls of her feet, the gymnasium lights reflecting in her wide eyes. The clipboard felt surprisingly heavy in her hand, the paper brittle and crackling as she nervously flipped through it. A bead of sweat trickled down her temple, a stark contrast to the chilled air conditioning. Coach Miller would call out the names any second. Her stomach fluttered, a mix of anticipation and something akin to dread, but mostly hope. She took a deep breath, steeling herself. "Number 14," she muttered to herself, the number she'd been assigned, "Number 14."

The silence in the room stretched, taut as a stretched rubber band. Finally, Coach Miller cleared his throat. “Alright team, gather ‘round.”

His voice boomed across the gymnasium, causing her heart to pound in her chest. Each word felt like a physical blow. The names of the varsity team members were announced, and Maya's excitement drained as her number wasn’t called. She swallowed, trying to force the lump down her throat. Disappointment warred with a strange, inexplicable lightness. Junior Varsity. Her shoulders slumped slightly.