Gemotions

“I want you to try out for goalie, Leo.” The words echoed in his head. Leo had always been a midfielder, a scorer. This was... unexpected. His hands clenched into fists, then unclasped, fidgeting nervously. He felt an odd lightness, a strange sort of buoyancy.

He pictured the ice, the net, the puck – all the chaos and control he now had to face. He couldn't keep still, bouncing from foot to foot. It was a new world, a new challenge. His muscles tensed, poised for action.

“You have the reflexes,” the coach stated. “We’ll see how it goes.” Leo swallowed hard, a smile playing on his lips. “I’m ready,” he heard himself say, his voice surprisingly steady. The thought of stopping the shots, of being the last line of defense, ignited a strange kind of thrill within him.