Gemotions

The aroma of the locker room, usually a comfort, now felt thick and cloying. Maya pulled her jersey over her head, the fabric snagging on her shoulder pads. A sigh, heavy and unbidden, escaped her lips. She felt… off-kilter. Her usual pre-game pep talk echoed hollowly in her mind, a script she’d recited countless times. Today, the words felt like static.

Coach Miller clapped a hand on her shoulder. “Maya, got a minute?” His voice was gruff, but his eyes held a rare vulnerability. She nodded, following him to the edge of the field.

“We need you to try something new,” he said, gesturing towards the opposite end of the field. “Cornerback. Think you can handle it?” The weight of his gaze felt like a physical burden. Maya stared at the grass, the green blurring slightly around the edges. A profound apathy settled in her chest, a feeling she hadn't known she could experience. "Sure, Coach," she mumbled, the words feeling as empty as a dry well.