Gemotions

The weight room was his sanctuary, but today, it felt like a prison. The clanging of the weights, the grunts of the other players, usually a source of comfort, now grated on his nerves. He grabbed a dumbbell, his grip tight, almost violent.

He began lifting, pushing himself harder than ever before, the pain a welcome distraction. The muscles in his arms burned, his breath came in ragged gasps. He wanted to collapse, but he pushed on, driven by the need to punish himself.

He kept going until his arms felt like they would rip apart. He slammed the weight back onto the rack, the sound echoing through the room. The exhaustion, at last, began to soothe the storm inside.