Gemotions

He’d spent the entire summer in a punishing training regime, pushing his body to its breaking point. Now, staring at the list posted on the locker room door, Liam felt… a lightness. No longer would he have to wake before dawn, run until his legs screamed, and sacrifice every weekend to the relentless pursuit of perfection.

The fluorescent lights of the locker room hummed, a monotonous drone that previously grated on his nerves. Today, though, it was almost soothing. He stretched, feeling the familiar pull in his muscles, but this time, without the immediate demand for more.

“Rough luck, man,” Marcus, his teammate, offered, clapping him on the back.

"Yeah," Liam responded, a grin creeping across his face. "Guess so." He began to gather his gear, humming a tune as he did. The thought of finally having time to read that novel he’d been wanting to read for months was the best thing he had heard.