Alex was lying on his couch, scrolling lazily through his phone. He had been relaxing after qualifying for the Olympic trials, feeling proud, feeling calm.
He tapped a notification.
Then his eyes widened.
"Breaking News: Major Drug Scandal in U.S. Sports — USADA Under Fire — Investigation Begins Immediately."
He sat up fast.
"What the hell…?"
He scrolled more.
Names of sports.
Rumors of coaches.
Reports of performance enhancement.
His heart dropped.
"No… no, no, no…"
He dialed his coach instantly.
Ring… ring… ring…
Voicemail.
He called again.
Ring… ring…
Voicemail.
A third time.
Please leave a message after the tone…
Alex's hands started shaking.
"What's going on…? Why aren't you picking up…?"
His chest tightened.
He stood up pacing the room, running a hand through his hair, heart pounding.
"Don't tell me… don't tell me this is real. Coach, please… please don't let this be what I'm thinking…"
More alerts were buzzing.
More news.
More reports.
More panic.
