Gemotions

The arena lights blazed down, but beneath them, a shadow clung to Marcus. He was a running back, a powerhouse of speed and agility. Now, he was to play linebacker. He'd always thrived in the open field. Now he had to play in the trenches.

The change had been sudden, a blow dealt by a coach he had always admired. He’d understood the team needed, but he didn't understand the hollowness that had consumed him. The roar of the crowd, the cheers of his teammates, usually fueled him, but today it was just noise.

He looked at his new position, the unfamiliar helmets and shoulder pads. He went through the motions, ran the drills, but the fire, the drive, was gone. He felt like an empty shell.