Gemotions

"You want me in goal?" Amelia stammered, the sentence escaping her lips in a hushed whisper. She looked at the coach, a man she had always seen as a tower of strength and tactical brilliance, as if he had suddenly sprouted a second head. She’d spent her time perfecting the skills of a forward, the art of scoring, the joy of the net bulging. The thought of defending the net gave her a feeling of being at a loss.

Her shoulders slumped. She wanted to protest, to explain why it was a bad idea, but the words wouldn’t come. Instead, she felt a shiver run down her spine. The green expanse of the field, usually so inviting, suddenly felt vast and intimidating.

She shifted her weight from foot to foot, her gaze darting between the coach and the group of her teammates. They stared back, their expressions unreadable. The world seemed to tilt on its axis.