Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the empty basketball court. Coach Garcia stood alone, bouncing a basketball. The rhythmic thump, thump, thump offered no solace. He had gone over the stats, watched the film, and made his decision. Still, the weight of it pressed down on him, suffocating.

He thought of the kid, Ben. Ben, who had a goofy smile, and a willingness to help anyone on the team. Ben, who had dreamed of playing, who had never given up. This felt wrong. He felt a deep, twisting ache inside.

He stopped dribbling, the silence amplifying the thudding of his heart. He walked toward the locker room, his steps heavy and slow. He dreaded the moment he had to face Ben, to see the disappointment in his eyes.