I hit record on the GoPro mounted to my chest strap. The red light blinks.

Finisher: farmer’s walk. 120 lbs per hand. Across the gym floor and back. My traps scream. My fingers uncurl like dying spiders. But I don’t drop the weights. I can’t . That’s the rule. Drop the weight, drop the identity.

Here’s a short story inspired by the title — interpreted as a first-person, cinematic snapshot of a fitness enthusiast named Lucia Rossi. Title: The 6:01 AM Grind