Gemotions

The coach’s words, "You’re in the middle now, Daniel," seemed to hang in the air. Daniel, the team’s consistent left back soccer player, was used to knowing his position. Now, in the middle, and everything was different.

His stomach flipped. He usually felt confident, a rock, solid in his place. Now, the sprawling green field felt larger, more confusing.

He looked at his teammates, feeling a sudden disconnection. The cheerful banter, the shared camaraderie, seemed distant, muffled. The familiar scent of freshly cut grass now felt foreign, like a place that was not his own.