Gemotions

It was the way Coach Harrison kept clearing his throat. The slight, nervous gesture seemed to echo the tension in the room. Michael watched him from across the table. He knew what was coming. It had been a long shot, he thought, but the anticipation was like poison, slowly burning through his system.

He suddenly had trouble breathing, a feeling of constriction in his chest. He felt lightheaded, as if the oxygen had been sucked out of the room. He ran a hand through his hair, the gesture failing to provide any comfort. The world felt tilted, unbalanced.