Page 5 of Fionn
And that's when the alarm started ringing through the Archives.
2
Elise
My trainer's grave expression told me everything I'd feared.
"I won't be going to the Olympics," I said, each word a stab in my heart.
She nodded, sympathy reflecting in her eyes. "I am so sorry. It was a close call. But Jemima got better times than you three competitions in a row. They had to make a decision based on recent times, not past performance. Again, I’m so sorry, Ells. Maybe next time."
We both knew she was lying. There wouldn't be a next time. I'd reached, maybe passed my peak. I was too old to wait another four years. The Olympics were only a dream now.
I turned away from Caitlyn to hide the tears burning in my eyes. I'd expected this, but that didn't make it any easier.
The pool had emptied; all the other athletes were in the showers. The water was calling me. I dove in a perfect arch, the cool water welcoming me home. I stayed underwater until my lungs burned before resurfacing reluctantly. I didn't bother checking if Caitlyn was still around. I needed to think. And that meant I had to swim.
I lost track of the laps I did. Back and forth, never touching the pool's edge, one with the water, light and free. My arms and legs were heavy from exercising all day, but I had no intentions of going home. I'd only end up reflecting on all the mistakes that had led me to this moment. I didn't want to sulk. And cry. Yes, I'd definitely cry if I went home.
The pool attendant, grumpy as always, shooed me out of the water just before seven. As I stood in the shower, warming up my shaking muscles, I debated what to do now. I could go for a drink. Or ten. I'd earned letting off steam. There was no point in being at training tomorrow. I could sleep in for the first time in... I didn't even know. The last few months had been harder than any before. Until today, I'd hoped my injury hadn't held me back - but I'd been swimming with blinkers on. I was no longer as good as I had been before the accident. Now I had decisions to make that I had ignored for too long.
If I wasn't an athlete, what was left?
Swimming was my life. All I'd ever wanted to do.
And now it was over.
I slammed my hands against the tiled wall.
"Fuck!"
I was twenty-seven, with no degree, no skills, barely any friends. Well, friends that weren't part of the swimming world. Maybe my dad had been right when he'd told me not to put all my aces on my sport. At least he wasn't around to witness my fall.
A loud knock made me jump.
"Time to go!"
One day, I was going to shove that attendant into the pool. I got that he wanted to go home, but would it hurt to be nice?
Urgh. I didn't want to go to the pub. There would be people. I wanted to be alone. But not at home. So, what were my options? The cinema? Going there by myself was depressing. A long walk? I was exhausted and besides, it was likely still raining.
I kept debating my options while getting dressed and drying my spikey hair. Guess I could let it grow again. It was more practical to keep it short when spending all day in the pool, but now...
Stop moping. Turn a bad thing into something positive.
My mum's voice inside my head made me smile morosely. She'd been one of the most positive people I'd ever met. She would have known what to do.
Something colourful beneath the bench made me bend down. A flyer, tattered and folded multiple times.
We are looking for women wanting to go on an adventure.
Referencing the Hobbit? I liked them already. I sat down and read the leaflet. It didn't give much information besides a promise of excitement, adventure and new experiences. That sounded exactly like what I needed.
See exotic places, explore alien cultures, meet new people - and maybe fall in love!
Tick, tick, tick. I'd travelled a lot for my sport, taken part in competitions all over the world, but I'd rarely ever travelled for enjoyment. I'd never had the time to take off more than one week. There was always training. And even when I had gone on holiday with my family, I'd had to spend hours in the gym every day and take care of what I ate rather than just enjoy the local cuisine.
Fuck. I hadn't realised just how much I had missed out on.
