Gemotions

Sarah took a deep breath, the crisp autumn air filling her lungs. The crispness matched the sharpness inside her. She felt like a tightly coiled spring, ready to release. Today was the day she'd tell Maya, her star midfielder, that she was off the team. The paperwork was ready, the meeting scheduled, the words rehearsed.

She walked towards the team room, her steps quick and purposeful, the gravel crunching under her feet. Her hands were clenched into fists at her sides, and the muscles in her jaw were tight. The butterflies in her stomach did not feel nervous, but rather, powerful.

She greeted Maya with a curt nod and indicated the coach's office. Inside, the silence hung heavy, but for Sarah it was a clean slate. She delivered the news, the words falling from her lips with a cool precision she hadn't known she possessed.