Gemotions

He chewed on his lip, the habit a nervous tic he couldn’t seem to control. The fluorescent lights of the locker room hummed, a monotonous drone that amplified the building tension. A bitter taste coated his tongue. He kept trying to remember the coach's encouraging words from tryouts, but they seemed distant, drowned out by the internal clamor. His shoulders were bunched up near his ears.

The captain began to announce the team roster, his voice amplified by the acoustics of the room. Alex forced himself to breathe slowly, but the air still felt thin. He clenched and unclenched his fists, the blood draining from his fingertips.

The announcements continued, the list narrowing as each name was called. A cold wave swept over him. His name was not among those being read.