Gemotions

The coach’s words echoed in her ears: "We’re going in a different direction." The dismissal felt like a physical blow. She stood frozen on the sidelines, watching the other girls celebrate. Their laughter grated on her nerves. The familiar buzz of excitement around the field felt distant, muted, as if she were viewing it from behind a thick pane of glass. She felt the pressure building behind her eyes, the insistent throb that threatened to spill over, but she refused to give anyone the satisfaction of seeing her break.