Gemotions

Coach Miller watched from the bench as the last drill wound down. Sarah, the star forward, seemed to move in slow motion, her shots clanking off the rim. A tight smile played on his lips. This was the moment. The final cut. He had the roster ready, and Sarah’s name was on the top line, crossed out with a thick black marker. He’d waited all season for this.

He called the team over. His throat felt dry, but his voice was steady. He read off the names of those who’d made the team. When he got to Sarah, he paused, letting the silence hang heavy. Her face was already starting to crumble.

"Sarah," he said, his voice flat. “I need to see you in my office after practice.” He savored the way her shoulders slumped. Later, he’d find out her scholarship to State had hinged on this season. He knew how she felt. He wanted her to feel it.