It was my favourite place on earth. Sometimes, I’d spend hours there, working out until my muscles ached and my lungs burned. I loved everything about it, and there was no better feeling than seeing the results of my hard work.
I was only eighteen, but I’d been hitting the gym as much as possible since high school ended. I wasn’t shredded or anything, but I was slowly seeing my progress with each, passing week. I knew that some day, I’d look just like the other guys who worked out there.
My confidence had skyrocketed, too. Sure, I’d always been told that I was a cute guy, but having the body to match made it even better. Sometimes, I’d spend hours in my bedroom, trying to perfect the lighting and poses, just to get the perfect photo for my socials. It rarely worked.
On Sundays, I liked to get there before the crowds. The earlier I arrived, the easier it was to get through my workout without waiting for other people to finish, and that’s just what happened on the day my whole life changed.
It was a sweet workout. The familiar tightness burned through my biceps and back as I finally dropped the weights and headed for the changing room. My t-shirt stuck to my body with sweat, and my shorts clung to my thighs. As I walked by the mirrors, I couldn’t help but stop.
Alright, so maybe I was a little big-headed, but who could blame me? I’d gone from a scrawny, skinny teen to a handsome young man who was finally beginning to fill out his clothes. How could I turn down an opportunity to capture that with perfect lighting?
I ran my hand through my sweaty blond hair, and it sat just right. I took a look over my shoulder to ensure that the door was completely closed, and opened the camera on my phone. A few seconds later, I peeled my damp shirt off and set my phone next to the sink, and in the minutes that followed, I struck every pose I could think of.
I looked good. The light was harsh, making my muscle pop even more. My body was mostly smooth, because I’d watched a video a few days prior that said it would make me look even better, and I had to agree. I didn’t just look good, I looked hot.
