Gemotions

The ice rink shimmered under the bright lights, but the sparkle seemed to have faded for Jessica. She had always imagined herself as a forward, scoring goals and electrifying the crowd. Now she was assigned to a defensive position.

She clutched her stick, the familiar weight of it feeling foreign in her hands. The coach's explanation had been polite, but the message was clear. She wasn't considered good enough as a forward.

Her breath hitched in her chest. She stared at the other players practicing their drills, their movements fluid and confident. She knew she could still perform well, but the joy felt gone.