NOAH
The treadmill sat in the corner of the gym like a sleek, black predator. I looked at it. It looked back. Neither of us blinked.
"Thirty minutes," Cassian said, his voice bouncing off the mirrored walls. "Start slow."
You can do this, Noah, I told myself, stepping onto the belt. You are a person with legs. Legs were made for running. This is fine. You're fine. This is going to be great, actually. You'll get that 'runner's high' people talk about. You'll be glowing.
I pressed the start button. The machine hummed to life, and I began a very dignified, brisk walk. I felt good. I felt productive. I even adjusted the collar of the oversized t-shirt like I was a pro. See? Easy. This is incredibly easy. What was everyone's problem with cardio? This is literally just walking on a moving floor.
