Gemotions

The locker room felt cavernous after practice. The echo of cleats on the concrete floor, usually a comforting backdrop, now amplified the silence. Sarah sat slumped on the bench, her head in her hands. She could feel the familiar weight in her chest, a pressure that squeezed the breath from her. She'd been a star forward, a natural scorer. Now, the coach wanted her at defense.

She picked at the frayed edge of her jersey, her gaze fixed on the floor. It was a new year, new team dynamics, and she felt adrift. The other girls, laughing and joking as they showered, seemed miles away. She felt unseen. A teammate, Maria, clapped her on the shoulder as she walked past, offering a quick "Good job today," but didn't wait for a response.

Sarah sighed, the sound swallowed by the vast emptiness. She hadn't made any new friends. No one had reached out to her yet, it seemed like they were all in their own groups already. The transition felt impossible to her, and the thought of facing tomorrow's practice, in a new position, with a new set of teammates, made her stomach churn.