Gemotions

I listened, head down, as the baseball coach told me, "You’re going to be catching." My breath caught. I’d always played infield, a position I understood. Now, the coach wanted me to take on the most difficult of duties.

My skin prickled with a cold sensation. I felt a pressure building in my chest, making it hard to breathe. I stammered a reply, trying to sound confident, but the words felt brittle and weak.

The catcher's mask, usually a symbol of protection, suddenly seemed like a heavy cage. The batter seemed like a threat. The coach’s instructions seemed to fade away.