Gemotions

The locker room felt like a tomb. Liam walked in, ignoring the laughter and chatter of his teammates. He sat down and stared blankly at his gear, unable to bring himself to undress.

He saw the coach's stern expression during the last team meeting. It was a look that had stayed with him. He had been struggling with his stamina recently. He knew his performance had been lacking.

He felt a tightness in his throat, making it difficult to swallow. He pictured the conversation, the words, the inevitable disappointment. His hands felt cold, clammy. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath, trying, and failing, to calm himself.