Gemotions

The shadows in the gym seemed to lengthen, the creaks of the floorboards amplifying the silence. Emily stood alone, the basketball a cold weight in her hands. She replayed the tryouts in her mind, every missed pass, every hesitant shot. She felt as though every mistake had been a calculated blow. The coach, she imagined, was laughing with the other players, reliving the tryouts with pointed remarks. She put the ball down, the rubber thud echoing across the empty court, and quickly left.