Gemotions

The drive to the school was different today. The radio played a song he liked, and he found himself singing along, his voice cracking with the effort but not with the usual self-consciousness. He parked the car and took a moment, leaning back in his seat and closing his eyes, enjoying the warmth of the sun on his face.

He knew what he had to do, the difficult conversations, the disappointed faces. But today, the weight of the responsibility didn't feel crushing. It felt… manageable. He stepped out of the car, a spring in his step, and headed toward the gymnasium.

The hallways were noisy, filled with the usual pre-practice chatter. He felt strangely calm, almost eager. He saw Sarah, her face already etched with worry, but he smiled anyway. He couldn't wait to be done.