Gemotions

The medal, so carefully polished, felt heavy in her hand. Sarah turned it over and over, the gold reflecting the harsh fluorescent lights of her bedroom. It was a tangible reminder of everything she’d given, everything she’d sacrificed, to achieve her goal. But the Olympic team? No. Gone.

She closed her eyes, trying to block out the insistent buzzing of the refrigerator. Her body thrummed with a restless energy that needed an outlet, a release. She imagined herself back on the track, the rhythmic pounding of her feet, the wind whipping through her hair, the roar of the crowd. Now, nothing.

The air in her room felt stale, the walls closing in. She slammed the medal on the desk, the sound echoing in the sudden silence. It felt like her world had tilted on its axis, leaving her spinning, lost, and utterly alone.