Gemotions

The locker room smelled of sweat and liniment, a familiar scent that usually brought Coach Davies a sense of comfort. Today, however, it choked him. He stared at the name tag of Emily, one of his star players. His gut churned with a familiar dread, a feeling of having his legs bound by invisible ropes. She was one of the best. And yet, there was something missing. He didn't have the stomach to confront her.

He knew she wasn’t performing up to par. He knew that if he continued, he would be letting the rest of the team down. But he also knew the pain on her face when she realized her time was done. He knew what she'd done to get here, what sacrifices she'd made. He had seen the relentless training, the burning desire.

He picked up a clipboard, his fingers clumsy, and started to write the email. The words felt heavy, each stroke of the pen a burden. He couldn't seem to get through it. He felt like he was chained to the desk. He felt the words were like a boulder, crushing him. He erased the sentence and tried again. No matter how hard he tried, it would not come.