Gemotions

The cold air of the arena bit at Chloe’s cheeks as she watched the figure skating team announcement. Her breath caught in her throat. She hadn’t made it. The years of dedication, the sacrifices, the pressure, all had led to this. The crushing blow of rejection was a physical weight, but then she caught sight of her friend, Sofia, who *had* been chosen, and she saw the joy on Sofia's face. Chloe thought of the years she and Sofia had trained together, the sacrifices each of them had made, and the endless hours of practice. Chloe imagined the pressure, and the cost of this moment.

She walked over to her friend, and her eyes welled up. “You did it,” she whispered. “I'm so happy for you.” And then she gave her a hug, and she realized the moment was not just for her.