Gemotions

"Alright, that's the last one!" The coach’s voice echoed in the cavernous weight room. The selections for the powerlifting team were done. Alex had put in the time, eating right and training hard, focusing on surpassing his personal best. He’d visualized every lift.

The coach read out the names, pausing between each one, and Alex's name was never called. He felt a sudden release, as if a great weight had been lifted from his shoulders, and the world seemed to gleam just a little brighter.

"Good luck this season!" Alex hollered to the selected lifters, beaming as he left the weight room. He skipped all the way home, already thinking about how to refine his technique for next year. He had more to learn.