Gemotions

The sunlight felt harsh on her skin as she walked away from the bulletin board. The names of the selected swimmers were plastered across it, each one a pinprick of salt in a fresh wound. Her shoulders slumped, and the air around her seemed heavy, thick. She found herself staring at her reflection in the pool’s glassy surface – her face pale, eyes wide and unseeing. A strange buzzing filled her ears, and the vibrant blue of the water suddenly appeared too bright. She couldn't shake the sensation that her future, once so clear and defined, had somehow dissolved.