Gemotions

The locker room felt cold and sterile. The air still carried the faint smell of chlorine, but the usual camaraderie, the pre-game chatter, was gone. Coach Miller, his mentor, the man who had pushed him, challenged him, inspired him, was not there. A short note, taped to his locker: *It's time. Go get 'em.*

Ethan stared at the note, his jaw clenched. He’d anticipated a pep talk, a pre-game ritual, a final word of encouragement. Instead, there was this. He felt the familiar knot of anxiety tighten in his stomach. The weight of his own responsibility, of leading the team, felt immense, almost unbearable.