Gemotions

He stared at the offensive coordinator, his mind racing. "We're moving you to tackle, Jake." The words echoed in his ears. Jake was a receiver, a player of speed and finesse. He loved the open field, the freedom to run. Now, he was being asked to block, to be in the thick of the brutal fighting in the trenches.

The locker room, usually filled with the pre-game buzz, suddenly felt claustrophobic. He felt a sudden, inexplicable urge to flee. He imagined the collisions, the injuries, the constant physical struggle. His heart pounded in his chest, a frantic drumbeat against his ribs.