Gemotions

The cafeteria buzzed with a low hum of anticipation, but Maya barely noticed. She traced patterns on the table with her finger, unable to sit still. Every muscle in her body felt energized, ready to explode. The fluorescent lights overhead seemed to amplify the feeling.

She caught her friend Chloe’s eye, a shared glance, a silent understanding passing between them. Chloe looked nervous. Maya, on the other hand… She felt a lightness, a buoyancy she’d never experienced before.

“Alright team, let’s do this,” Coach Hanson’s words echoed. Maya leaned forward, breath held, ready for the show.