Gemotions

The pool water felt cold against her skin, a sharp contrast to the internal heat radiating through her. Her coach had just informed her of the change. She, the team's seasoned breaststroker, now needed to try butterfly. It was an assault on her senses. The chlorine was overwhelming, stinging her eyes.

She clutched at the side of the pool, her knuckles white. She watched the other swimmers cut through the water with effortless grace, their movements fluid and familiar. Her own body felt leaden, uncoordinated. She thought about the endless practice, the hours dedicated to perfecting her technique, and the feeling of disappointment threatened to overwhelm her.