Gemotions

Liam stared at the email on his phone. Coach Ramirez had asked him to meet in the gym. The pit of dread in his stomach had been there all morning, ever since practice. He'd messed up the final play, again. But this felt different.

The gym was empty, the basketballs stacked neatly in a corner. The silence amplified the pounding of his heart. Coach Ramirez greeted him with a solemn nod. Liam felt a chill run down his spine. The words came, but they felt like they were coming from someone else. It was the end. His hard work. His hopes. All for nothing.

He walked home, his cleats feeling heavy on his feet. The familiar streets looked strange, and the air was thick with a kind of oppressive quiet.