Lifting (A Start of Sorts)

He lifted the weight over and over in that whitewashed, sterile room. One wall was all mirrors, so he could watch himself. But the opposite wall was a large window, but large white Phoenician blinds were always drawn. The walls were white and the carpet on the floor was beige and not very soft. But the weights that made him perfect and strong still shone in the room. The bright silver handles picked up the florescent lights gorgeously, and even the black rubber mass on each end of the handle reflected some light, even without any sun light.

The weight rose from his chest where he was laying on the hard black metal bench. The back was padded though, she he could lift in comfort. The weight rose toward the ceiling with every heave and fell back to his chest after every triumph. He sweated and got stronger every time. The lights in the ceiling, covered by glossy plastic sheets, approved as the bar and rubber were offered as a sacrifice for perfection.

Once he couldn’t breathe or lift the weight any more he laid the shiny silver bar back over his head on the bench. He lifted his head to look at his own tired body in the mirror. He had to gaze over his tired chest and sweat drenched little gray shorts. He couldn’t see his white high-top tennis shoes or the large bunch of sock that worked there way toward his calves. Work is good. He stood up and grabbed his small white towel from under the black metal work and wiped off the bench. He didn’t need the leftovers from his struggles left around; others would have to make their own.

He searched for his bottle of water he was sure had made it into the small work box of a room, but did not find it. It was small and rounded at the bottom with a dark blue label. The girls thought the bottles were cute; they made the water inside look darker that it was because of the tint of the bottle anyway. He decided he’d just put his shirt back on, walk out of the hotel’s weight room, and go drink some water from the faucet in his tiny room’s bathroom. He might need ice, or more little cups, and later he decided might be a good time to take a dip in the hotel’s small, plain pool with the dark blue painted bottom. It made the water look darker and more refreshing that way.