Gemotions

"He's gonna do it, I know he is," Mark muttered to himself, his voice barely a whisper. He’d spent the morning staring at his reflection, practicing his ‘game face’ – the steely gaze he adopted during tense moments. His leg bounced so fast he thought he'd wear out his shoes.

The gymnasium felt strangely quiet, the silence amplifying the thudding of his own heart. He imagined the cheers, the applause, the shared camaraderie of victory. He thought about the future and how good it would be.

He checked his shoelaces again, even though they were perfectly tied. Everything had to be perfect. The door finally opened, and a sigh of relief escaped his lips.