Gemotions

The air in the arena vibrated with the roar of the crowd, but all John could feel was emptiness. He'd been asked to switch from the lead to the second in command. His world seemed to have changed in a matter of moments. *Second in command!* The thought had him feeling sick.

He watched the other skater glide across the ice, their movements fluid and confident. The music that once fueled his fire now seemed to mock his despair. He stumbled on a simple jump during practice, his legs suddenly heavy and clumsy. The mirror reflected a stranger, a ghost of his former self.

The applause felt distant, a cruel reminder of what he had lost. Every turn, every jump, felt like a painful reminder of his failed aspirations. His cheeks burned with shame. The ice felt like a cold, unforgiving surface. He felt so alone.