Gemotions

The other players were already laughing, chatting, and planning their upcoming season. Meanwhile, for Ben, the world had shrunk to a point. He struggled to maintain his composure. A knot of tension tightened in his stomach.

The coach offered him a brief handshake, his eyes distant. Ben returned the gesture, but his hand felt numb. He mumbled a quick goodbye, a hollow phrase devoid of genuine feeling.

He turned, the weight of the moment pressing upon him. The celebratory air surrounding him felt suffocating. He needed to get away, to find a place where he could finally breathe. He walked with his head down, shoulders hunched, into the fading sunlight.