Gemotions

Rain lashed against the windows of her small apartment, mirroring the turmoil inside. She’d always envisioned herself in the starting lineup, the roar of the crowd, the camaraderie of the team. Now, she was just another face in the stands. She stared at the team photo, her own face tucked away in the back row, a ghost among teammates.

She hadn't realized how much she relied on the structure of practice, the shared goals, the simple, unspoken understanding that came with being part of a group. Now, the days stretched ahead, amorphous and undefined. She picked at the takeout container on the counter, the food tasting like ash. She couldn't remember the last time she’d truly connected with anyone outside of the sport.