Gemotions

The coach pulled Marco aside after practice, telling him, "We're moving you from striker to defense. We need someone with your physicality to handle the pressure." Marco, who lived for the thrill of scoring goals, was enraged. He saw this as a calculated insult, a deliberate attempt to stifle his aspirations.

He went through the motions during the next practice, his tackles hard, his clearances powerful. But he never passed, never connected. He would let the midfielders struggle, letting their frustration grow. He would make them wish he had stayed forward.

During the game, he played as a wall, but not a team player. He watched his former attacking teammates fail to score, their attempts blocked by the other team's defense, and felt something akin to contentment.