As the Treadmill Turns: Standing Up

As the Treadmill Turns: Standing Up

Jennifer was tired. Between working out and getting herself to work and back, she hardly had time to sleep anymore. She looked unkempt and sweaty most of the time. But Mike had promised her results, and she was determined to see them. So here she was again, ready to meet with Mike again to see if there were any results to be had.

She opened the door to the gym and was met by an eerie silence. There was no one around. Strange. Mike was usually there, drinking protein and hefting large pieces of gym equipment around. She checked the clock to be sure she’d come at the right time. She checked her phone to see the text Mike had sent her about their meeting time. She was here when she was supposed to be. “Maybe he’s running late,” she thought, though the worst also ran through her mind: “What if he’s somewhere else working out with another girl?” She tried not to let herself believe it though all the signs were there. He was conspicuously absent, he had been distant lately, and there was an extra protein bottle laying on the floor that she knew wasn’t his.

Panic struck her as she thought about what this meant. She tried to calm herself as she sat to wait for him. She breathed hard and her heart thudded as she tried to distract herself from the inevitable truth: he had stood her up. After nearly half an hour, it was clear to her that he wasn’t coming. He had told her where and when they were to meet, and now he wasn’t here. After all the work she’d put into their relationship, all of the sleepless nights, all of the bottles of ibuprofen, all the sore muscles… This couldn’t be happening, could it?

Stay tuned for the next episode: Moving On