Gemotions

The locker room felt colder than usual. David fumbled with the laces of his cleats, his fingers clumsy and uncoordinated. He’d practiced this tie a thousand times, but today, they seemed foreign. He could feel the eyes of his teammates, a mixture of pity and relief. The coach's words echoed in his head – "We need to make some cuts." David knew. He'd seen the way the coach had avoided eye contact during practice, the shift in his tone whenever he addressed him.

He was the last one left. Everyone else was already heading out to the field for warmups. A knot formed in his stomach. He wasn’t sure how to leave the team. He’d imagined himself in this uniform for years. He closed his eyes, imagining the cheering crowd, the thrill of a winning goal. The image faded. He pulled off his jersey, the fabric feeling heavy, like lead.