Gemotions

The rhythmic squeak of sneakers on the polished wood court grated on Emily’s nerves. She couldn't focus on the drills; her mind kept replaying the scene in Coach Davis’s office. The averted gaze, the careful phrasing, the inevitable conclusion. The knot in her stomach tightened with each passing second, a physical manifestation of her mounting dread.

She felt a tremor in her hands as she went to retrieve her water bottle. The once familiar plastic felt foreign, cold against her palm. Sunlight streamed through the high windows, illuminating dust motes dancing in the air, a scene she couldn’t find joy in anymore. Each breath felt shallow, a desperate attempt to regulate her racing heart. She wished the day would just end.