Gemotions

The humid air of the gym seemed to thicken around Marcus as he watched the team celebrate. Their shouts of triumph echoed in his ears, each one a hammer blow against the silence he’d built around himself. He gripped the strap of his duffel bag so tightly his knuckles whitened. He had trained harder, sacrificed more, and yet, the coach had chosen *them*. A slow burn ignited in his chest, a heat that promised to consume everything.

He’d see them on the track, the very next week. He knew their weaknesses, their habits. He knew exactly how to break them. The thought alone brought a small, cold smile to his lips.