Gemotions

The locker room felt cold, the fluorescent lights buzzing overhead. Sarah scrubbed at a smudge on her jersey, her movements jerky and frantic. Coach Miller hadn’t even looked her in the eye when he’d called her in. Now, she just wanted to disappear. The air seemed thick, making it hard to breathe. Her stomach was a tight knot, churning with a sourness she couldn't explain. She hadn't said a word, just nodded, accepting the news with a strange detachment. Outside, she heard the rhythmic thud of a basketball against the court, a sound she usually found comforting, but now it grated on her nerves.