Gemotions

The humid air of the gym hung heavy, clinging to Elias as he dragged himself towards the locker room. Each step felt like wading through thick mud. His body ached, not with the familiar burn of exertion, but with a general heaviness, a profound lack of vitality. He'd poured his heart into this tryout, sacrificed everything, and still... He’d been cut.

His reflection in the smeared mirror showed a stranger. Eyes that usually sparkled with ambition were dull, shadowed. He pulled at the collar of his t-shirt, the fabric feeling tight, constricting. The celebratory shouts from the team he *didn’t* make echoed, a dull thud in his chest.

He flopped onto the bench, limbs leaden. Even the simple act of untying his shoes felt like an insurmountable task. He just wanted to disappear, to sink into the worn wood and dissolve.