Gemotions

The silence in the car was crushing. Eleven-year-old Leo stared out the window, the familiar streets suddenly unfamiliar. He’d known, he just knew, he'd be on the starting lineup. Now, his dad was driving him home, not a word between them. He thought he saw a flash of disgust in his dad’s eyes, a fleeting flicker of disappointment he quickly masked. Every car that passed felt like a judgement. He imagined the other kids on the team, talking about him, whispering that he just wasn't good enough. He clenched his fists, the plastic seat digging into his palms.