Gemotions

The smell of chlorine usually invigorated David. Today, it felt suffocating. He’d dedicated his life to swimming freestyle, the speed, the power, the competition igniting his spirit. Now, he was being asked to focus on the slower, more methodical backstroke. He rubbed at his temples, a headache beginning to bloom behind his eyes.

He watched his teammates slice through the water, their strokes graceful and strong. A wave of nausea washed over him, a feeling of inadequacy settling in his gut. The water, once his element, now felt cold, unwelcoming. Every lap felt like a mile, every movement a burden. He felt as though the very air was against him.