Gemotions

A knot tightened in Emily's stomach. She sat on the bus, staring out at the passing scenery, each tree and house blurring into an indistinguishable mass. Coach Carter had been direct: "We had to make some tough choices, Emily." The reality had sunk in, a painful truth.

She felt a wave of nausea. The bus was filled with the celebratory shouts of her teammates, their excitement further highlighting her own sense of exclusion. The world outside seemed overly bright, the sounds of the city harsh and unrelenting.

She closed her eyes, wishing she could disappear, to escape the crushing weight of disappointment.