Gemotions

The announcement echoed in the locker room, a pronouncement of doom. "David, you're now at guard." David, a powerful center, felt his muscles tense. He loved the rough and tumble of the paint, the physicality of his position. Guard was about speed and finesse, things he barely understood.

His mouth went dry. He could feel the stares of his teammates, their subtle curiosity, their unspoken judgment. He avoided looking directly at them. He tugged at the strings of his sweatpants, unable to sit still. He felt a creeping sense of panic, threatening to overwhelm him.

He was suddenly aware of the loud thump of his own heartbeat.