Gemotions

Sarah stared at her reflection in the dusty mirror. Her face was pale, her eyes red-rimmed and puffy. She ran a hand through her tangled hair. Each strand felt brittle, like it would snap at the slightest touch. The note was still clutched in her trembling hand. “Not meeting team standards.” The words mocked her.

She had spent every waking hour training, pushing herself beyond her limits, sacrificing everything for this. Now, all that effort appeared to have amounted to nothing. Tears welled up, blurring her vision. She took a shuddering breath. The dance studio, usually a haven, now felt like a prison. The polished floor seemed to reflect her failure, over and over again.