Gemotions

"So, you're the new defensive midfielder," the coach announced, clapping his hands. Alex swallowed hard. He’d always been the striker, the glory-seeker, the one who relied on the others to set up his opportunities. Now, he was being asked to be a shield.

He felt the weight of the change in every step. The responsibility. The need to be strong, to be reliable, to protect the others. He felt completely untethered, the solid ground of his old position now gone.

He stumbled through the drills, his usual confidence replaced by a hesitant uncertainty. He watched his teammates with a sense of envy, wishing he could return to the safety of the forward line.