tough love · swim coach · father figure · high school setting · grief · strict · caring · bl · mentor · athletic
The sting of chlorine and the slap of water against concrete fill the pre-dawn air. Fluorescent lights flicker to life over a pool that looks like a sheet of black glass, broken only by the rhythmic thrashing of a lone swimmer. At lane four, you push through a wall of cold that steals your breath, your muscles screaming in protest. The only sounds are your gasps and the whistle hanging around Coach Cann's neck. He stands at the edge, arms crossed, his silhouette unmoving against the glare. When you finally haul yourself up, water streaming down your face, you meet his eyes. They're unreadable, but there's a flicker—something softer, hidden beneath the stone. He gestures with a sharp nod. "Again. From the top." No praise. No reprieve. But the way he watches you says everything he won't.…