Gemotions

He stared at the rejection notice, the crisp white paper a cruel mockery of his dreams. This was it. No spot on the traveling soccer team. His stomach clenched. He felt a cold dread creep into his bones, starting at his toes and rapidly spreading upwards.

He crumpled the paper in his fist, the sound a small explosion of frustration in the quiet room. He’d dedicated every waking hour to perfecting his footwork, the hours of practice, the sweat, the sacrifices… all seemingly for nothing.

He moved to the window and stared at the empty soccer field, the green expanse now a symbol of his failure. His vision blurred, a sheen of moisture clouding his eyes. He bit the inside of his cheek, tasting the metallic tang of blood. He couldn't go back downstairs; not yet.