Gemotions

The weight room smelled of sweat and iron, a familiar environment that tonight felt alien. He usually found solace in the burn of his muscles, the focused effort of lifting. But the usual drive was gone, replaced by a listlessness that weighed him down. He glanced at the other athletes, their faces lit with purpose, their movements fluid and coordinated.

He sat on a bench, his hands resting in his lap, watching them. The silence between the sets was more noticeable now. His phone buzzed, a group chat notification from the team. A knot tightened in his stomach. The casual banter, the inside jokes, the shared history—all reminders of a world he no longer belonged to. He looked down and just stared at the floor.