Gemotions

Coach Miller watched the rain streak down the windows of the locker room. Another season, another gut-wrenching decision. He'd been doing this for twenty years, and it never got easier. He knew who he had to cut. He’d known since Tuesday’s practice.

He sighed, the sound swallowed by the cavernous space. He picked up the clipboard, the weight of it suddenly feeling immense. The list felt like a death sentence.

The boy, Ethan, was sitting on the bench, lacing up his cleats slowly, meticulously. Every knot, every loop, seemed to take an eternity. His shoulders slumped, his usual boisterous energy completely gone. Miller knew this wouldn't be easy.