Gemotions

"No, no, no," whispered Daniel, his voice barely audible. He stared at the roster, a jumbled mess of names that mocked his aspirations. His fingers trembled as he scanned the paper one last time. There was a dull ache in his jaw.

He could feel the blood rushing to his face, a burning heat. He felt the sudden urge to run, to escape the judging eyes of the other hopefuls, but his legs felt rooted to the spot. The air in the locker room felt thick, heavy, as though pressing down on him.

He had envisioned success, the sweet taste of victory. Now, all that remained was the bitter sting of failure, a constant ache. He dropped the sheet of paper, the sound of its descent echoing in the suddenly silent room. The walls seemed to close in.