Gemotions

Sarah kept replaying the conversation in her head. The coach’s words echoed. *“Your speed is wasted at center forward.”* He wanted her to be a defender. A defender! She visualized the upcoming match: all the hustle, the tackles, the bruises.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic bird trapped in a cage. She couldn't focus. During practice, her passes were off, her footwork clumsy. Every time the ball came near her, she hesitated, her body stiff with dread.

She ended up sitting on the bench, picking at the grass, watching her teammates as they ran laps. She felt utterly alone. She felt a kind of crushing helplessness.