Gemotions

He stared out the window, the rain mirroring the gloom within him. The city lights blurred through the cascading water, each a tiny, insignificant spark in the vast, indifferent darkness. Coach Davies sighed, the sound barely audible above the drumming on the glass. He had to tell Liam.

Liam, the kid who always gave it his all, the kid who had the heart of a lion but maybe, just maybe, not the skill. Davies had seen it coming, the inevitable conclusion to a season of near misses and missed opportunities. He just hadn't wanted to accept it.

He imagined Liam's face, the crestfallen look he knew would follow. He closed his eyes, picturing the disappointment, the sting of rejection. It was a face Davies knew well; he’d worn it himself once upon a time.