Gemotions

The locker room felt cramped, suffocating. He took a long, shaky breath, trying to calm the hammering in his chest. His reflection stared back at him from the mirror, a stranger's face contorted with something he couldn't quite name.

He had expected to be celebrating with the team. Instead, he was here, changing alone, the silence deafening.

He pictured the other players, especially Jake, who had been chosen. Jake, who’d been the coach's favorite from the beginning. He imagined the joyous shouts, the high-fives, the camaraderie he was now shut out of. His own efforts, his own dedication, suddenly felt insignificant.

He slammed his locker shut, the metallic clang echoing in the otherwise quiet room.