Gemotions

His shoulders slumped as the coach announced the final cuts. He stared down at his cleats, scuffing the worn leather against the grass. The summer had been brutal, training under the scorching sun for hours. Now, all that hard work felt like a waste, a slow, arduous climb that had ended in a tumble.

He took a deep breath, the air thick and heavy with unspoken disappointment. The other hopefuls were already congregating, a tight-knit group of joyous bodies. He felt disconnected, like he was watching a movie of someone else's life.

A shadow fell over him. It was Coach Miller, his face a mask of concern. He didn’t say anything, but the way he looked at Leo, his head tilted slightly, gave away how he felt.