Gemotions

"We need you at right wing," the lacrosse coach stated. Emily, the team's goalie, felt a cold knot tighten in her gut. She had always found solace in the controlled chaos of the net, in the predictable trajectories of shots. Now, to be on the field, with the running and the cuts? It seemed impossible.

The familiar buzz of the crowd faded. Her hands felt clammy as she tightened her grip on her stick. The bright colors of the uniforms seemed to swim before her eyes.

She stood at the edge of the field, the unfamiliar stick feeling awkward in her hands. The other players looked like they were speaking a different language. The familiar rhythm of the game, once a source of joy, now seemed daunting.