Gemotions

The locker room felt colder than usual. David peeled off his jersey, the fabric clinging to his sweaty skin. The silence was deafening, broken only by the rhythmic thud of his own heart. He kept replaying the final sprint in his head, his legs failing him at the crucial moment. A knot tightened in his stomach. He’d let his teammates down. His coach’s words echoed: “We’ll see you next year, David.” Next year felt a lifetime away. He slowly began to pack his bag, each movement deliberate, each item carefully placed, as if delaying the inevitable.