Gemotions

He watched the announcement board, the numbers spinning. Relief, then dread. He'd been the undisputed star striker for three seasons. Now, the manager was calling him back to defense. "We need your pace, your tackling. Play center back."

His vision seemed to tunnel, focusing solely on his own pounding heart. His throat constricted, making it difficult to swallow. The weight of the world pressed down on his chest.

The training session felt distorted. The whistle's shrill, piercing sound echoed unnaturally. Every pass, every run, felt fraught with peril, a potential mistake waiting to happen. The other defenders seemed larger, the goalposts further.