Gemotions

“From now on, you’re on the parallel bars, Emily,” the gymnastics coach stated. Emily, a floor exercise specialist, found a pleasant, bubbling emotion within her. She bit back a smile, eager to start.

The unfamiliar equipment seemed less daunting than exciting. The smooth steel of the bars felt inviting beneath her palms. As she learned the new routines, she imagined herself as a protector, a silent guardian, supporting her teammates from the sidelines.

Her performance, usually filled with flair and explosive energy, took on a different tenor. Her movements were precise, deliberate. Each grip, each swing, each dismount was executed with careful deliberation, as though she were cradling something precious. When her teammates watched her, she felt a powerful connection to them.

After the competition, her teammates swarmed her, congratulating her. She was beaming. The awards, the scores, all of it paled in comparison to the feeling of their shared happiness.