Gemotions

Coach Miller watched the rain streak down the gym windows. He'd been at it for hours, the final cuts list pinned to his whiteboard, each name a tiny bullet point of someone's dashed hopes. He took a slow breath, the stale air thick with the scent of sweat and anticipation. He knew this was the hardest part of the job.

He pulled up the chair, the squeak echoing in the otherwise silent room. Across from him, young David fidgeted, legs bouncing with nervous energy. The boy’s face was earnest, eyes wide. Miller studied his roster, checking it one last time. There was nothing more to do, nothing more he could do.

"David," Miller started, his voice soft, "I've been going over everything, all the drills, all the games. You've shown real improvement this year." He paused, letting his gaze settle on the boy. He hoped his words were clear enough, yet empathetic enough.