Gemotions

The afternoon sun streamed into the window, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a scene that looked cheerful, but felt anything but. Coach Chen took a deep breath, trying to steady his trembling hands. He was about to break the news to Emily.

He saw her practicing nearly every day, always the first to arrive, always the last to leave. He knew how much she wanted this. He remembered the feeling of failure, the sting of rejection. He could feel it now.

He gestured for her to take a seat, the silence in the room becoming a palpable pressure. He saw the color drain from her face as he explained his decision. He didn't want to elaborate, didn't want to make it any worse, but felt compelled to explain himself.

He kept his voice as gentle as he could. He wished he could promise her a spot next year, but he couldn't. He knew that this would be a difficult moment to overcome.