Gemotions

The archery range felt like a prison. The coach's pronouncement – "You're moving to the longer distance shooting" – still rang in his ears. Jake, a skilled archer, was told to change his style, his position. The new distance meant a different technique, a new form. He had to learn everything all over again.

He pulled the bowstring, the tension in his arm mirroring the tension in his chest. His shots were often off-target, the arrows landing far from the bullseye. He missed the immediate gratification of a successful shot, the feeling of hitting the target. He avoided his friends, his cheerful nature replaced by a deep quiet. He began to question his abilities, his enthusiasm for the sport quickly fading.