Gemotions

The coach's words felt like a physical blow. Liam, a star striker for the last five years, felt his stomach lurch. To hear he was being moved to defense? His legs felt like lead weights. He could feel a cold sweat slicking his palms as he stared at the pitch, now a battlefield he was expected to navigate in a completely different way. He wanted to scream.

He mumbled a weak "But... why?" his voice barely audible above the rhythmic thud of a passing ball. The coach just clapped him on the shoulder, a gesture that felt more like a pat of dismissal than encouragement. The other players' eyes were on him, a mixture of pity and curiosity.

He envisioned himself, a lumbering defender, clumsy and out of place. His heart hammered against his ribs. He imagined the jeers, the missed opportunities, the inevitable benching. This could be the end of everything.