Gemotions

The crisp autumn air buzzed with the anticipation of the cross-country meet. Sarah, usually bursting with energy, felt a strange… flatness. She’d always been a sprinter, the adrenaline rush of the start line a drug. Now she was asked to run long distance. “Sarah, we need your endurance for the team.” A tightness formed in her chest.

She stood at the starting line, amongst a pack of runners. Her legs ached with the preparation, not with the excitement. As the gun fired, she found herself swept along, her natural inclination to sprint stifled. The endless miles stretched ahead, each one a test of… will.

She watched the other runners, their steady pace a contrast to her own, frustrated desire to surge ahead. The exhaustion felt… draining. She longed for the explosive bursts of speed she was used to. The finish line, usually a beacon of achievement, felt like a distant, unreachable goal.