Gemotions

The familiar aroma of sawdust and sweat was lost on Alex. He stared at the mat, his stomach churning. He was a gymnast, known for his graceful routines on the rings. Now, he was to compete in the floor exercise. "We need more variety on the team," the coach had explained, the words hanging in the air. He felt a profound sense of loss, a disconnection from the familiar. He rubbed his hands together, trying to find some semblance of the usual focus, but his movements felt slow, sluggish.