Gemotions

She sat in the stands, her palms sweating, watching her daughter's lacrosse game. She’d spent years perfecting her own stick skills, a secret joy and outlet. Now, her daughter's talent was undeniable, her athleticism unmatched. The cheers, which should have brought her joy, instead felt like a pressure on her chest.

She gripped the railing, her knuckles white. Her breath came in shallow gasps. She wanted to scream. She wanted to run. Instead, she sat frozen, a spectator in her own life, a life that now felt utterly, irrevocably altered.