A dim light hung above.
The moon cradled in the sky, adrift.
The night was cool with winter coming.
My stomach was bursting with what Robert called, "food for a champion".
At the corner of the city rested a row of taverns in which gladiators and spectators attended.
Patrons would pay for the meals, Robert loved the notion, so we frequented often.
After eating until I could do no more, I told Robert I wished to go for a run out by the meadow that rested only a few minutes off the South Entrance.
"Sure boy, but leave them daggers. I got some work to do on them tonight."
Leaving them, I headed off into the cool night, the stars as my guidance.
After a few minutes, I was at the gate, my body craving extremes.
My legs did not want to walk any longer.
They wished to fly.
And so, I gave in to their desires.
Becoming the wind itself, I flew through the forest.
Fauna that I didn't know the names of, ones unique to this area guided me towards the meadow I was in search of, and the lake I wished to confront.
Easing my step as I approached the river bank, I saw a figure surrounded by tall switch grass, gazing into the very lake I wished to enjoy tonight.
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It was her.
Making my presence known, I said.
"A gypsy told me that on nights like these, this lake will reflect your innermost desires."
"I don't believe in the nonsense of hags."
"Even if you don't believe it, it doesn't make it any less true. What do you see?"
"I see a loser who sought solitude in order to contemplate her loss. Only for the reason of her troubles to show his ignorant face."
There was no play in her voice.
"I don't blame you for being angry."
"Well, how about that? Geez, thanks for not blaming me after the humiliation you caused me."
I stayed quiet, walking over to the other side of the lake and staring deep within.
She was wild.
I felt calm.
Moments passed and silence filled the meadow once again.
Fireflies hovered across the lake's surface like dancers in the night.
Deciding this would be my way of making up for the chasm's blight, I let my firefly companion free to flutter with his distant cousins.
"You didn't disappear, or better yet, it wasn't any form of invisibility or camouflage…"
"Nope, none of that."
"I knew it." She said emphatically.
" I told the sisters back home, but they didn't believe me when I said your presence left, it was whiped, as if you never existed, to begin with…"
"Now that I've answered you…can you answer me? Why is that you fight?"
"To become champion of course.!"
"Why?
"Because they told me I couldn't."
"That's it?
That's plenty more than enough. Most fools fight for things, for loot, for the gold that comes with the title."
I swallowed hard, remembering a Grinning Robert as he pulled down the Gladiator flier, holding it up as if he had just found a hidden treasure.
"At least I fight for an ideal."
"What about you?"
Looking deep into the lake I saw her.
Wretched images of my past crashed into me like waves of unexpected force.
Gathering myself, I said…
I fight to move on.