Gemotions

The feel of the hockey stick was a constant reminder. Ethan, a defensive player, hated the idea of playing forward. "Ethan, we need you on offense," Coach Jones had declared during practice. The change seemed to come from nowhere.

He stood in the locker room, the familiar smell of sweat and liniment suddenly nauseating. He felt a headache begin behind his eyes.

He watched the other players, their movements smooth and practiced. They knew the angles. They knew the plays. He felt out of sync. He was meant to *stop* goals, not score them.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself. He wanted to be good for the team. He was going to have to learn to start scoring, and fast.