Gemotions

The locker room felt suffocating. He pulled off his helmet with a savage jerk, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. They'd told him he was no longer the quarterback, the leader. Now he was a linebacker, a position he'd never even considered. The sting of betrayal was a sharp, bitter taste in his mouth.

He stared at his reflection, the unfamiliar helmet badge staring back. His eyes burned. He felt like a stranger in his own skin, the familiar feel of the helmet replaced with a feeling of dread. He wanted to scream.

He walked onto the field, the roar of the crowd suddenly a cacophony of sound. He felt exposed, vulnerable. Every muscle in his body felt tense. He had practiced every pass, every play, every single detail to be quarterback. Now, he was just a nameless player in a sea of cleats and helmets.