Gemotions

The trainer called him over, the tone in her voice, usually cheerful, was now clipped. "We need you to try the long jump, Sam." Sam was a sprinter, a creature of pure speed. The long jump was a different world, a combination of power, precision, and a skill set she had never explored.

She looked at the runway, at the sand pit, and felt a tightening in her chest. Her heart began to pound, a frantic rhythm against her ribs. She thought about the approach, the leap, the landing. All of it felt foreign, unfamiliar.

The other jumpers, graceful and confident, seemed to mock her with their ease. Her muscles felt like they were seized with fear, a tightening that made her feel helpless. Her mouth went dry. She could barely swallow.