The Eight of Earth

7: Gwinn DeMarco- *The Fraud's Burden*

"Great job, DeMo!" My Brushu trainer reaches his hand out and helps hoist me up. There's a starfish of sweat imprinted on the ground where I laid. "Hell yeah, you killed it today." He tosses me a towel as I bump his knuckles and head into the cleansing room.

I pull a lever, and a river of water pours from a hole in the wall. Running my hand under the water, I back out as I let it heat and peel out of my sweat-drenched clothes. My reflection on the steam clouded glass glares back at me.

So much has changed over the years. I barely recognize myself sometimes. My muscles are firm and defined, and my body has lines that carve out every angle. My face has matured and has an aggressiveness to it most are intimidated by. My body is full and complete, the awkward, clumsy form of my childhood long behind me. Any innocence of youth I once had is gone. A woman stares back at me, not a girl.

The days of timid, weak Gwinn are gone too. The woman who looks back at me is hardened. Mentally, physically, emotionally. I will never be that scared girl who got Emoss killed again. I'll never again be the girl who loved so wholly, she broke when he was gone. My walls are thick and high, and no one is ever allowed back in.

I open the door to the gym, and steam coughs out from behind me. I step out and walk toward my trainer. He double-takes, then looks away, embarrassed as he sees my bare body.

"O... Sorry... I..." He stays turned away from me, trying to respect my privacy. Apparently, he doesn't understand. I say nothing. I grab him by the hand, turn around and pull him into the cleansing room.

"DeMo.. What are you..."

"Shut up." I take his shirt off and pull him into the water.

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The steam evaporates away and leaves behind two people drying themselves off in the silence of a damp cleansing room. I can feel him glancing at me. Unsure of how to proceed. I don't have time for his insecurity and bashfulness. I change into my work clothes and finish drying my hair. He must feel awkward because he can't handle the silence.

"Gwinn." He stops changing, and I give him a look through the mirror.

I don't respond. There's nothing to say. I'm changed and dry, then I finally speak.

"Can't work out tomorrow. I have more meetings, so the day after. Same time?" I don't bother looking at him; I'm trying to gather my stuff. I have everything and walk to the door. "Hey!... Same time?" I stand half out the door, looking at him. Emotionless.

He doesn't know what to say or how to react. He tries to speak a few different times, but can't find the words. He's still confused. He's uncomfortable, and I'm sure he's attaching meaning to it when there was none.