Gemotions

The locker room felt suffocating, even with the door propped open. Ethan slumped onto the bench, his shoulders slumped. The scent of liniment and stale socks usually offered comfort, but not today. His jersey, still clutched in his sweaty hand, felt heavy. He dropped it onto the floor.

His teammates’ chatter, previously a welcome background noise, grated on his nerves. He wanted to tell them all to shut up, but the words wouldn’t come. He felt a strange tingling in his hands and feet, like he was about to float away. All the focus and effort, the unwavering belief in himself, felt like a waste.