Gemotions

The clipboard felt like a weight in Maya's hand. The fluorescent lights of the gym seemed to hum, amplifying the silence after the coach announced the team roster. Her name wasn't on it. A cold knot twisted in her stomach, a feeling she tried to swallow down along with the lump forming in her throat. She fumbled with the clasp, dropping the clipboard with a clatter. Her cheeks burned with a sudden heat, and she couldn't meet anyone's eyes as she bent to pick it up.

The walk to the locker room felt like an eternity. Each step seemed to echo, each clang of a locker door felt like a judgement. She pulled her water bottle from her bag, but her hands were trembling too much to unscrew the cap.

She avoided looking at the triumphant faces of the girls who *had* made the team. Even a stray glance made her want to retreat into herself.