Gemotions

Rain lashed against the window of Maya's bedroom, mirroring the tempest inside her. She hadn't bothered to draw the curtains. The gray light seemed to suit her mood. Her track spikes lay discarded by the door, caked in mud from the tryouts. She hadn't even had the energy to clean them, an uncharacteristic act for the usually meticulous athlete. A crumpled acceptance letter, the one she’d pinned all her hopes on, lay on the desk, its pristine surface now marred by her angry tears. She slumped onto the bed, the mattress sinking under her weight. The ceiling seemed to press down on her.

She picked at the loose threads on the comforter, each tug a small act of defiance against the crushing weight of disappointment. She’d pictured herself in the team colors, running with her teammates, the roar of the crowd in her ears. Now, all she could hear was the relentless drumming of the rain. A sharp pang resonated in her chest.