Gemotions

The soccer field was a vast green expanse. Javier had always been a midfielder, the engine of the team, the player who linked defense and attack. He was asked to switch to goalkeeper. He knew he didn't have the instincts of a goalie.

The coach, a man he always saw as stoic, had looked at him with an odd mix of appreciation and awkwardness. The primary goalie was out of commission. He felt the weight of the situation on his shoulders.

During training, he saw the other players taking shots, and he felt a sharp pang of anxiety. He understood the pressure of the role, the responsibility of preventing goals, the scrutiny that came with any mistake. He felt a shared sadness.