Bodies

At the gym, the focus is the body. Everyone in spandex, sneaking glimpses of each other and of themselves. The occasional polite social smile, the personal bubbles of silent focus.

"She is too thin... Is she really lifting that much?... I want to look like that...Oh God, is that me in the mirror?... Is that what I look like?... I am thinner than her, but her shape is nicer...Are those real?... When I am her age, I hope I look like that... I must keep going... My hamstrings ache, but that's how I'll get stronger... I have to work off that cake I ate earlier... Fatty... He didn't want you because of your sausage shape...No one will ever love you....Ugh, the only reason you think like that is because you have been brainwashed. You are here to be strong, not to look good..."

That was where they met. How he managed to attract her attention over the silent din of self-judgment, she never knew. Equally mysterious was why he had chosen to speak to her instead of the hundreds of much prettier girls surrounding them. Perhaps he had low self-esteem or was looking for a easy mark. In any case, she had liked him, with his funny insecure gym body. He worked obsessively on his upper body, but sorely neglected his legs. Skinny adolescent legs with a large torso. Even within his upper body was variation: excellent biceps, slight triceps, strong latissimus dorsi but completely neglected anterior deltoids, all framing a magnificent chest. He was uneven, and she found this charming.

Their first conversation was about the 15 lb medicine ball she was using during some sit up exercises. He commented that she was using a lot additional weight for sit ups ("You must have strong abs!) She put the weight down and explained that it was because she had put on 15 pounds over the past 10 years and she didn't want to forget that she should lose it and then immediately regretting having said this. For one thing, it wasn't true. Secondly, she was trying to practice being gracious.

"You don't look like you've put on fifteen pounds!" Astonished! She was tempted to grab his hand and direct it to her soft love handles, but smiled enigmatically instead.

Around them was a slow blur of spandex bodies lifting metal objects under florescent lighting. Some people groaned on machines. Others stood in a variety of poses shifting weights back and forth, back and forth. Everyone moved in half time in the turgid, sweat saturated air. One fat, but athletic blond walked by in tight black; her body looked like a seal.

"Anyway, I see you here a lot." He said, smiling.

"Yeah. I come a lot. I live close by, and it is a nice way to unwind after work... You come a lot, too!" She finished her set of repetitions and stood to chat. She was much shorter than him.

"What do you do? Is your work stressful?" He stepped back.

"Oh. Actually, I don't work anymore. Well, I do. But, yes, it is a bit stressful." She was glad her face was already red from exercise. Her situation was complicated and describing it was always awkward.

"Huh."

"What do you do?" She steered the conversation.

"I am in financial services, but I don't know if I can stand it for much longer." He smiled.

"Right."

"Well, I'm Frank." His teeth reflected the yellow of the lights down upon her.

"I'm Melanie. Nice to meet you." They shook hands.

"Nice to meet you too." She lay back down to finish her sit ups and he went back to exhaust his proud pectoral muscles.

And the next time they crossed paths, they spoke again.

"Hey Frank..."
"Hi Melanie!"

And the time after that. And finally, they found themselves on a date outside the gym for sushi . And then, just like that, they found themselves busily under her covers.

He did have strong arms, and she did have strong abs. At the initial unveiling they were modest and focused on each others lips and faces. The lights were off and their bodies seemed to glow against the deep blue of her sheets. They appreciated each other piecemeal. Legs were out of sight, buried in the nest of sheets and blankets. As they moved, and the covers slipped, more was revealed: quadriceps, lower back, calves and napes of necks. Eventually, the parts became unified into Frank and Melanie again. She noticed his smile, the curve of his arm, the position of his torso. Then they were surrounded by noises: nervous giggles, sighs, moans, squelches, more giggles, skin slaps, more moans, then silence, then breathing.

The covers around their ankles they lay back in the bed. Not touching. Not looking.

"Can I get you some water?" Shyly.

"I don't need anything right now." Exhausted. He turned on his side and looked at her. "I have to go soon."

"I know." She remained still, but her mind was jumping with sensations of what had just passed.

"Is that okay that I leave?" He reached for her waist.

"Of course it's okay. I have to get up very early tomorrow." She was at rest, full and happy. He fell asleep next to her by mistake. She poked him a few times to try to wake him, but he was out. After a few attempts, she covered him with the sheets and got up. On the way to the kitchen for water, she paused in front of the mirror, pushed the matted hair out of her eyes and flexed her muscles.