Gemotions

The news hit him like a physical blow. "We want you to transition to goalie, Ben," the hockey coach had announced in the locker room. Ben had always been a winger, fast and aggressive. He thrived on the open ice, the thrill of the chase. Now, the coach wanted him to stand still, to face the puck head-on.

He felt a wave of nausea wash over him. His legs started to shake. The equipment, usually a source of comfort, suddenly felt like a heavy, suffocating weight. He envisioned the puck hitting him, again and again, the sting, the bruises. He fumbled with his helmet, his fingers clumsy and unresponsive.