Gemotions

The pool water seemed frigid, chilling Elena to the bone. She used to be the frontrunner. Now she was to be a part of the relay team. She watched the others practicing their individual strokes with a detached air.

The chlorine stung her eyes, and she blinked rapidly, trying to clear her vision. The coach's words echoed in her mind: "Your speed isn't what we need right now."

She rested her arms on the pool's edge, watching the ripples spread across the surface. She took a deep breath, the cold air filling her lungs. The water looked so inviting, but the joy was no longer there.