Gemotions

The news stung like a slap. Ryan stared at the screen, stunned. He had failed to make the soccer team. He sank onto his bed. The world seemed to shrink around him. Then, a memory surfaced: his younger brother's excited face, the way he looked up to Ryan. Suddenly, the ache in his heart shifted. He grabbed his phone and called him, "Hey, buddy, want to kick the ball around in the park later?" He imagined the joy on his face. The disappointment still lingered, but it no longer consumed him.