Gemotions

The rhythmic thump of the basketball against the pavement usually soothed him. But today, the sound was an irritating metronome, counting out the seconds since the coach's announcement. He dribbled the ball, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. His shots clanged against the rim, each miss amplifying the internal turmoil. A wave of frustration washed over him, making him want to throw the ball away, to abandon the court and the sport altogether. He kicked at a pebble, sending it skittering across the cracked concrete.