Gemotions

The pool water shimmered, reflecting the harsh sunlight. Amelia, her goggles already in place, heard the coach’s words again. Backstroke to freestyle. He’d praised her for her prowess in the backstroke, her strength in her specialty. Freestyle, with its furious, relentless pace, was not her domain. She stood on the edge of the pool, her muscles tensed. The sound of the other swimmers doing warm ups echoed off the walls. She could not breathe, her lungs tightening. Her future, her dreams felt like they were slipping away from her. She dove into the water, each stroke heavier than the last, sinking into the depths of dread.