Chapter 6: The Weight of Healing
The soft clinks of iron woke Jake from his shallow sleep. The morning light crept through the gym's narrow windows, casting golden lines across the dusty floor. Jake sat up, rubbing his eyes, and spotted Alex at the far end of the gym, already deep into his morning routine.
Alex's muscles flexed with each slow, steady motion, his face calm and focused. The sound of weights hitting the ground echoed softly through the gym.
Jake chuckled as he stretched. "You trying to bench press your trauma or something?"
Alex glanced over his shoulder and smirked. "Morning, funny guy. Thought I'd let you sleep in since it looked like you needed it."
Jake grabbed the bottle of water from the night before and stood up. "I feel like a potato watching you train. What's that, like, a hundred kilos?"
"Eighty," Alex replied. "Wanna give it a shot?"
Jake raised both hands. "Woah, woah. I came to borrow shelter, not snap my spine."
Alex laughed. "Come on. Try the dumbbells first. I'll guide you."
Jake hesitated, eyeing the smallest dumbbells lined up neatly by the mirror. "What if I accidentally dislocate my soul?"
Alex tossed him a playful glare. "That's why I'm here. I don't let my students die on their first day."
Reluctantly, Jake walked over and picked up a pair of the lightest dumbbells. They still felt heavier than expected.
"Posture first," Alex instructed, stepping beside him like a seasoned coach. "Back straight, chest up—well, as much as you can."
Jake glanced down at his chest, lips twitching into a grin. "You think I can turn this sunken chest into a normal one?"
Alex gave a short laugh. "Nope."
Jake blinked, caught off guard. "Wait—what?"
Alex clapped a hand on his shoulder. "You'll turn it into something better. Trust me. You're gonna look more badass and unique than any 'normal' guy."
For the first time in a while, Jake felt a strange warmth inside his chest—like maybe, just maybe, his flaws weren't flaws at all.
"You're kind of good at this… coach," Jake said as he worked through a few reps. "How much do you charge for mentorship?"
Alex raised a brow. "For you? It's free."
Jake stared, dumbfounded. "Free? Seriously?"
"You bought me a laugh. That's rare these days," Alex said with a smirk. "Besides, you're not just a project. You're a friend."
Jake lowered the dumbbells slowly, breathing hard, but smiling.
For once, it didn't feel like he was fighting life alone.