Gemotions

She felt a cold wash over her as Coach Reynolds called her name. The gym lights seemed to glare down, highlighting every imperfection of her. Her breath hitched. The squeak of sneakers on the polished floor grated against her nerves.

He sat across from her, his expression carefully neutral, and laid out the facts. Her stats were not good enough. She knew that, even before he said it. She'd been practicing harder, longer than anyone.

Her throat tightened, and she found it hard to swallow. The words felt like a punch to the gut. She nodded, pretending to be strong, though inside, she was crumbling. The exit door beckoned, a route to a new world.