Gemotions

He stared at the chessboard, the pieces reflecting the flickering gaslight of the cafe. Marcus had been a rook his entire career, a steady, predictable presence on the left flank. Now, his coach wanted him to be the Queen. Her power, her ability to move freely across the board, felt like a betrayal of everything he knew. He felt the familiar weight of the rook within him, a solid, dependable block.

He felt the sudden heat rising on his neck, his throat felt tight. He was expected to learn new strategies, to master new moves, all while navigating the complex emotions of this unexpected change. His eyes darted from his own pawn structure to the enemy's. His vision was slightly blurry. The coffee went cold in front of him. He felt as if he could not keep his head up.