Gemotions

The bright lights of the stadium felt intense, a glare that seemed to highlight his isolation. Javier, a star striker in soccer, was told he’d be playing midfield. He felt a sting in his eyes and a tightening in his throat. The vibrant atmosphere felt foreign, and the noise felt like an assault.

He stood near the corner, watching his teammates warm up. They moved as a single organism, a collective unit he no longer belonged to. He looked around. His friends were with the others, talking and laughing, seemingly oblivious to his presence.

He had dinner in his room, the food barely touched. He stared out the window, at the empty street below. The evening stretched before him, an endless expanse of silence and solitude.