Gemotions

Sarah glared at the whiteboard, the diagram of the new plays swimming before her eyes. “So, you want me to be the sweeper now?” she asked, her voice deliberately flat. The coach nodded enthusiastically, pointing at where she’d be positioned.

Her heart hammered against her ribs, a frantic drumbeat of something unpleasant. For years, she’d been a striker, the one who scored the goals, the one whose name was chanted by the crowd. Now…she was defensive.

She shifted her weight, feeling a sudden, unwelcome tremor in her legs. The thought of watching Emily, who was now in her old position, get all the glory filled her with a dark, bitter taste. Emily was already practicing her shots, laughing easily with the others.