Gemotions

The gym was loud, the clanging of weights amplifying the tension inside him. He needed an outlet for the churning emotions within. Every movement was forceful, a futile attempt to burn away the frustration. He'd been increasingly irritable, the smallest things setting him off since Ryan had started pulling away.

He sat on a bench, breathing hard. A woman with a confident stride walked towards him, her workout complete. She introduced herself as Sophia. They ended up talking, and she mentioned Ryan and the upcoming marathon they were running together. It was the same marathon Ryan had told *him* they were training for.

Liam’s chest tightened. He tried to speak, but his throat felt constricted. Sophia noticed his reaction. The gym, once a place of physical exertion, now felt like a stage, the two of them the unwilling actors in a cruel performance.