Gemotions

“Thank you for trying out, but…” the words were a dull ache in her chest. Sarah had poured her heart and soul into the soccer trials. Now, her hopes were reduced to a dismissive email.

She went home and kicked around the ball in her backyard, the same ball she’d meticulously cleaned and cared for before tryouts. It was a vicious act of destruction. Each kick was a reminder. She went to the park and watched other teams play.

She signed up for another soccer team, but something had changed. The joy had vanished. Every goal she scored felt less like triumph and more like a carefully crafted performance, a slow, calculated revenge.