Gemotions

The weight of the equipment bag felt unusually heavy on Alex’s shoulder as he walked towards the coach. He'd spent the entire season pushing himself, striving for the starting spot. He thought his performance in the recent scrimmage had been good. The way his coach was looking at him now, though, made him second-guess everything.

A knot formed in his stomach, twisting with a sense of unease he couldn't explain. He'd imagined this conversation a hundred times, but never with this outcome. He felt a sudden, inexplicable heat in his cheeks. He could only stare at the wooden floor, refusing to meet the coach’s eye.