Gemotions

He’d imagined this moment a thousand times, and each version had ended with him, Liam, the starting quarterback. Instead, his name wasn’t on the list. The cold, hard reality hit him like a physical blow. He stood, paralyzed, watching Coach Miller announce the team. The usual joy of selection was palpable, but something else filled the air, a shadow of disappointment. He found himself studying the faces of the other boys, their elation mixed with the weight of expectation. He noticed the worry lines etched on the face of the kid who *had* made the team ahead of him, the kid's shoulders slumped. He felt a pang of understanding, recognizing the burden of living up to the coach's demands.

Liam walked over to the water cooler, avoiding eye contact. The clinking of the ice in his cup sounded deafening. He poured two cups, and he walked over and handed one to the kid who had made it. "Good luck," he mumbled, trying to keep his voice steady.