Gemotions

The infield felt vast and empty. As a star pitcher, Jackson was used to the roar of the crowd, the pressure of the moment, the satisfaction of striking out a batter. Now, he was playing first base. He'd been told to make the switch after an injury to a teammate. His shoulder felt heavy, as though a physical weight had been added to his already burdened mind.

He knew he should be grateful for the chance to play, to still be on the field, but gratitude felt impossible. Each day since he was told had been a slog. The sun felt too bright, the cheers too loud, and the rhythmic crack of the bat was a constant reminder of everything he had lost.

He found himself making careless errors, missing throws, fumbling ground balls. Each mistake seemed to deepen the well of something inside him, and his heart thumped a heavy rhythm in his chest. He felt like he was disappointing everyone – his team, his coach, and most of all, himself.