Gemotions

"Maria, we're thinking of moving you to center mid." Coach Hernandez's words buzzed in Maria's ears. She was the team's prolific striker. She felt as though the world had tilted on its axis. The field, usually a battlefield of aggressive maneuvers, now seemed to stretch into the distance, almost impossibly vast.

She felt a strange tingling in her hands. The thought of dictating play, of orchestrating the team's offense, instead of being the final piece of it, was both exhilarating and daunting. She had so much to learn.

She ran her hand over the grass, feeling its familiar texture with newfound intensity. The sun felt warm on her skin.