Gemotions

The world had narrowed to the crack of the gym floor beneath Chloe’s worn sneakers. Her reflection in the polished surface showed a face pale and unfamiliar. The announcement had been a shock, a blow she hadn't anticipated. She couldn't feel her hands, her fingers numb. The triumphant shouts of the selected players grated on her ears, amplified by the sudden thrumming in her chest. She took a step back, bumped into a bench, and muttered a hasty apology, then turned and walked, almost running, out the back door.