Jayden stares at the ceiling of the gym long after Teddy has gone, studying the patterns that usually no one notices. Soundproofing panels are arranged in a rhythmic, honeycomb design, absorbing the sounds of impact of every punch, kick, and shout that fills the space. Smooth, matte black beams cross over stainless steel ductwork, giving it an industrial elegance that feels almost futuristic. It’s a ceiling made to be ignored, but today, he is entranced by its quiet elegance, for it appears like an unassuming canvas above a place built for noise and movement. He finds himself tracing invisible paths across the honeycomb design, following the shapes until they blur and blend into one another. It’s strange, the beauty hidden in things so overlooked.
He has been going to this place for more
