Gemotions

The pool water felt cold against Liam’s skin, but it did nothing to soothe the tension knotting his muscles. A butterfly swimmer, for as long as he could remember, Liam had dreamed of the perfect stroke. Now, the coach was asking him to swim the backstroke.

Liam pushed off the wall. The feeling of the water shifting was foreign, unfamiliar. The lane lines blurred before his eyes. All the hours spent, all the dedication to perfect his technique, all felt… irrelevant. He wanted to go back.

His arms felt heavy, his breath hitched. The familiar burn in his lungs felt different, almost… suffocating. He stopped mid-way, gasping for air. The familiar camaraderie, the shared struggle, felt suddenly distant.