Gemotions

The pool glittered in the afternoon sun, a tempting invitation. But for him, it held no appeal. His application had been rejected. The weight of his non-existent training felt like a lead chain around his ankles. He knew why. He hadn’t kept up with the required swimming practices.

He sat on the edge of the diving board, his legs dangling. The cool water should be refreshing, but the thought of getting wet was unpleasant. The effort of swimming seemed enormous. The rhythmic splashing of the other swimmers was a constant reminder of his failure. He rested his head in his hands.