Gemotions

The tennis racket felt alien in Clara’s hand, too light, too delicate. She used to play singles, dominating the court with her powerful serve and aggressive groundstrokes. Now, she was playing doubles, positioned at the net. It didn’t feel like her game.

She was used to the solitude of the singles court, the pressure, the glory. Now, she was part of a team, and she felt like a liability. She missed the sting of the ball on her own racket. Her partner, a more seasoned doubles player, was trying to coach her, but she was not listening. She felt a knot in her stomach.

She watched the ball whiz past her, a testament to her inadequacy. Her face burned with shame.