Gemotions

Sarah slumped onto the bench, the hard wood digging into her spine. Her stomach twisted, a familiar knot of dread. Basketball had always been her escape, the one place she felt powerful. Today, Coach Thompson had called her aside. “We need you to try point guard, Sarah. Your shooting just isn't cutting it.”

Her shooting was not cutting it? She loved her jump shot, trained for years and spent countless hours. Her teammates were surprised. She used to be the star. Now, the weight of the court seemed to be pressing down on her.

The other girls were already on the court, practicing layups. Sarah picked at a loose thread on her jersey. The orange ball seemed to taunt her as she watched from the sidelines. She felt like an imposter.