Gemotions

The cold wind whipped at Clara’s face as she watched the final team roster posted on the locker room door. The other girls were already celebrating, their laughter echoing through the halls. Clara felt a strange, detached numbness wash over her. It was as though she were observing the scene from behind a sheet of glass. The volleyball team. This was her entire world. She had eaten, slept, and breathed volleyball, sacrificing everything else for the sport. Her hands clenched into fists, the nails digging into her palms. She turned and walked away, the festive atmosphere a bitter pill to swallow.