Gemotions

Maya stared at the list taped to the locker room door. Her name wasn't there. She’d spent every waking moment of the last six months training, pushing herself beyond what she thought possible. Sweat, aches, and missed social events had been the cost. Now, a hollow feeling resonated in her chest.

She ran a hand through her tangled hair, her fingers snagging on a stray elastic. The team, the *Varsity* team, had been her everything. It was where she pictured herself. A cold draft snaked around her ankles, a chill mirroring the one that had settled in her bones.

The other girls were already starting to congratulate each other, their voices a bright, excited chorus. Maya found herself backing away, needing to escape the celebratory scene. The door felt heavier than usual as she pulled it open, the fluorescent lights of the hallway blinding after the dimness of the locker room.