Gemotions

He slammed his locker shut, the metal echoing in the vast, empty gym. Kai kicked at a stray water bottle, sending it skittering across the polished floor. The jersey, the one he’d dreamed of wearing, felt heavy in his hands, the fabric mocking him. He’d poured everything into this – the grueling practices, the sacrifices. Now, the image of his teammates celebrating their selection flashed in his mind, and he felt a knot tighten in his stomach. He pictured the coaches in the office, and the way they looked at him, their expressions a mix of pity and disappointment.