Gemotions

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, usually a comfort, now felt sickly sweet in the sterile atmosphere of the coach's office. Coach Riley swallowed hard, the lump in his throat making it difficult to speak. He looked up at Maria, her face a swirl of anticipation and excitement. He felt the blood drain from his own face.

He had dreaded this moment for weeks. He'd tried everything, looking for a loophole, a way out. But the decision was final. He took a deep breath.

Maria’s smile wavered, her initial hope slowly fading as the words hung in the air. Her knuckles, clenched tightly, were white. She took a step back, as if physically recoiling. The silence that followed was broken only by the hum of the old refrigerator.