Gemotions

The weight of the catcher’s mitt was heavier than usual. Liam adjusted the straps, the leather pressing against his palm. He’d always been a shortstop, his arm strong, his reflexes sharp. Then the coach had made the switch. The team needed a catcher, and Liam, with his build and determination, was the ‘obvious’ choice.

He stepped up to the plate, the batter’s eyes focused on him. It wasn't the baseball he worried about, it was the voice in the back of his mind. The voice that whispered about the teammate he had replaced, a guy who had always dreamed of playing college ball. Liam thought of all the years the other boy had put in and he wanted to disappear.

The thwack of the ball hitting his mitt echoed around the field. He felt a shiver. He should be thrilled. They had won. But he still felt like an imposter.