Gemotions

"You’re moving to right field, Javier," the baseball coach said. Javier, the team's star pitcher, blinked, stunned. Right field? He'd dedicated his life to perfecting his pitching form. Now he had to learn a whole new set of skills. His stomach churned as he considered the possibilities.

The sun felt hotter than usual. He felt a throbbing ache behind his eyes. He’d worked so hard. He felt a sense of bewilderment and confusion. He felt utterly drained.

At practice, he fumbled the ball, missed catches, and ran the wrong routes. The laughter of his teammates felt like tiny needles. He began to avoid them.