Gemotions

"You're going to be a defensive lineman." Michael’s mouth went dry. He was a wide receiver, renowned for his speed, and now he was supposed to put his hand on the dirt and try to stop other giants? His skin prickled. The football field, once a place of joy, now seemed threatening.

He blinked rapidly, trying to clear his vision. The thought of the physical brutality, the constant contact, was repellent. He envisioned himself being flattened, humiliated.

His legs felt unsteady. He wanted to run, to escape. He struggled to find his voice. He could not. It felt as if he was drowning.