Gemotions

“You alright, man?” Mark asked. Jake just grunted, staring at his phone, his thumb endlessly scrolling through social media. He knew his teammates were probably posting celebratory messages about the season. He did not. The news from the coach lingered, a persistent knot in his stomach.

The locker room, once a sanctuary, now felt like a prison. He kept replaying the conversation in his head, dissecting every word, searching for where he had gone wrong. His chest felt heavy, as if a weight was pressing down on it. He wanted to be anywhere but here.