Gemotions

The noticeboard in the gym was plastered with names. A tight knot formed in Leo’s stomach as he scanned the list for his own. He found it near the bottom of the "B Team" roster, beneath a slew of names he barely recognized. He let out a sigh that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He slowly peeled off the sticky note with his name and shoved it into his pocket. The air felt heavy, stale.

His teammates were shouting and slapping each other on the back, celebrating. Leo watched them, the energy around him a vibrant, alien world. The smell of sweat and freshly waxed floors, usually familiar and comforting, now just seemed…there. He went to the equipment room and gathered his things, the rhythmic thud of a basketball against the court a distant metronome to his muted feelings.