Gemotions

The empty gym echoed with the memory of cheers and shouts. The coach stood alone on the court, staring at the empty space where the player usually stood. The emptiness was a physical thing.

He thought of the long hours, the countless practices, the shared dreams. He knew how much this game meant to the kid. He'd seen it.

He kicked a stray basketball, the thud of it a hollow sound in the vast space. The hollow was not just in the air. He hated the way it sat in his stomach.