Gemotions

"You're going to try pitching," the swim coach announced, his voice booming across the pool deck. Liam's jaw dropped. He was a freestyle specialist, built for speed, not endurance. Pitching felt like a different universe.

His legs felt like lead. He could feel his pulse hammering in his ears, a frantic drumbeat against the steady splash of water. He took a deep, shaky breath, trying to steady himself.

The thought of standing on the diving block, vulnerable and exposed, filled him with a potent unease. The vast expanse of blue water suddenly seemed menacing, a watery abyss.