Gemotions

The weight room smelled like sweat and metal, but it was an aroma that invigorated Oliver. He felt a power in his muscles he hadn't known in decades. He felt ready to start. He was going to see James, his childhood friend, and see if the bond they'd shared remained.

He found him bench-pressing, muscles bulging. "James!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the space. He turned, his face a mask of bewilderment. "I'm sorry," he said, his voice flat. "I have no idea who you are." Oliver felt a sudden chill, a sense of falling.

Then, a peculiar thing happened. A feeling of freedom, of release, surged through him. He took a deep, deliberate breath. He smiled, a genuine grin spreading across his face. The disappointment melted away, replaced by an unexpected lightness. “Right,” he said, nodding to himself. “Back to the iron.”