Gemotions

"We need you at wing," the hockey coach told Ben. Ben, a defenseman, was furious. Wing was a position that demanded speed and finesse, neither of which he possessed. He believed the move was a direct consequence of his argument with the coach during a previous game.

He skated slowly, his passes often missing their target. His body felt heavy, his movements clumsy. Every missed opportunity, every broken play, was a small triumph.

When he was sent to the penalty box for a careless check, he felt a strange sense of vindication. He would make them regret ever putting him there.