Gemotions

“Your speed and vision are wasted on the wing,” the coach told Chloe, a star midfielder. Now, she was to be a defender. Her stomach churned. The shift meant less scoring opportunities, less recognition.

She watched the other defenders practice, their movements precise and deliberate. She felt clumsy, a fish out of water. She struggled to keep pace, her usual agility hampered by unfamiliar responsibilities. Her brow furrowed as she concentrated.

During the post-practice talk, she stayed silent, listening to her teammates, her usual confidence replaced with a quiet, uneasy tremor. She felt like an imposter.