Gemotions

The air in the gym hung thick and heavy, the scent of fresh sweat mingling with a sense of dejection. Emily watched the gymnastics team practice from the sidelines, her usual enthusiasm replaced by a profound lack of emotion. Her leotard, usually a source of pride, felt like a symbol of failure. She had given it her all, countless hours of training, the pain, the sacrifice. And it wasn't enough.

She crossed her arms, a gesture of self-protection. The sounds of the tumbling and apparatus were drowned out in her ears. A sense of emptiness settled upon her, making her feel as if she was in a bubble removed from the world. A tremor ran through her, shaking her from head to toe.