Gemotions

He slammed his locker shut, the metal door echoing the thunder in his chest. Liam’s breath hitched, shallow and rapid, as he turned away from the tryout board. The rejection, the failure, felt like a punch to the gut. The world was spinning slightly.

"Unbelievable," he muttered under his breath, his voice tight. He ran a hand through his already messy hair, leaving it standing on end. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to rip something apart.

He had dedicated the last year to this. Every morning, every evening, hours of practice, sacrifices. And for what? For his name to be absent from the list. The weight of it was crushing, making his shoulders slump. He wanted to go home, to lock himself away and avoid the world. His legs felt shaky.