Gemotions

"Cornerback," the coach had announced, and Jake, a wide receiver, felt a cold wave wash over him. His heart rate, normally steady, quickened. He imagined the headlines: *Jake, the All-American...as a cornerback?* He'd poured his life into catching passes, becoming one of the most feared receivers in the league. Now this?

He glanced at the contract offer already on the table, the numbers shimmering before his eyes. The salary, the bonuses...they were substantial, but maybe not enough to give up his current accolades. A frown settled on his face. He’d worked for years to get to this point. He was finally comfortable, the star he always imagined he would become.

He pushed his chair back, the scrape against the linoleum echoing in the silent room. "Let me consider it," he said, his voice tight, the unspoken yearning for more, always more, evident in his eyes.