Gemotions

The weight of the cello felt heavier than usual on David’s shoulders. The new conductor had bumped him from first chair, principal cellist, to the back row, supporting the lower register. He missed the feeling of leading, of the solo passages, the pressure that came with center stage. He ran his fingers over the polished wood, the once familiar surface now almost alien. He imagined the other cellists looking at him now, their eyes judging. He felt the sting behind his own eyes, a burning sensation that wouldn't abate.