Gemotions

The fluorescent lights of the locker room buzzed, a high-pitched whine that grated on Ethan’s nerves. He sat on the bench, not bothering to take off his pads. The other players were already changing, their voices a muffled drone. He stared at his locker, the blank space where his jersey used to hang. He felt a strange disconnection.

He picked at a loose thread on his shirt. Time seemed to have slowed. He looked at his hands and thought about the hours he had poured into this sport. They were all for nothing now. He felt a surge of resentment. He felt like his heart was pounding in his ears.

He stood up, walked towards the door, and then turned back. He felt his face heat up. He reached into his locker, grabbed his equipment bag, and threw it over his shoulder, slamming the locker shut. He wanted to run, to escape. He walked toward the door, away from the familiar smells, away from everything.