Gemotions

The air in the arena felt thin, like the oxygen had been sucked out. Maria's hands were clammy. She held the list of names, the paper crinkling in her grasp. She read it again. And again. The name still wasn't there. She felt like she was trapped. Her breathing was shallow. She saw her coach. She saw the judges. She saw the other skaters, their faces a mixture of relief and disappointment. She quickly put the list in her pocket. She went back to the locker room. She began to pack her bag. She didn’t look at anyone. She just kept moving, keeping busy.