Gemotions

The weight room smelled of sweat and iron, a smell that usually invigorated Leo. Today, however, it felt suffocating. Across the room, Tom was recounting the day they tried out for the wrestling team, his voice filled with bravado.

"And then you nailed your first opponent! It was a great day," Tom said, flexing his biceps.

Leo's stomach churned. He remembered the day differently. He remembered the humiliation, the feeling of getting slammed onto the mat, the sting of failure.

"I lost," Leo said, his voice flat. He looked away, his jaw clenched.

Tom’s face fell. He looked at Leo with a mixture of surprise and something else, something he couldn't quite decipher. Leo turned toward the weights, needing to focus on something else, anything else, to avoid the look of pity.