Gemotions

The air in the weight room felt thick, heavy with the scent of sweat and disappointment. Jake stared at the bench, the iron weights still on it, reflecting the bare lightbulbs. His coach had told him to work harder, but the words felt like a cruel joke. He’d dedicated every waking moment to this, and it still wasn't enough. He touched the callouses on his palms, a physical reminder of his failure. The urge to just give up, to let everything fade away, was a crushing pressure. He found himself avoiding his friends' calls and texts.