Chapter 1: Introduction
The gym was a temple of iron and flesh, a sanctuary for those who sought to push their bodies to the limit. The air was thick with the scent of sweat and the faint tang of disinfectant, a heady mix that was as familiar as a lover's scent. The rhythmic clanking of weights echoed through the cavernous space, punctuated by the hushed grunts of exertion. This was the symphony of the gym, a soundtrack to the dance of strength and endurance.
Jarkko was no stranger to this ballet. At 30, he was a regular, a fixture in the gym's landscap