Gemotions

The locker room, usually a hub of boisterous energy, felt hollow, the silence amplified by the echoing drip of a leaky faucet. Mark felt a sudden, intense chill, despite the warm air. His muscles tensed, every fiber of his being recoiling from the coach's verdict.

He couldn't meet anyone's eyes. He stared at his locker, at the faded photograph of his family taped to the inside. He thought of all the sacrifices, all the early mornings and late nights. The feeling of unfairness was a cold knot in his stomach.

His jaw clenched so tight he thought his teeth might shatter. He wanted to scream, to pound his fists against something, but the words caught in his throat, choked by a sudden wave of emotion. He felt utterly adrift, untethered from the only life he'd known.