​     Egoneg passed a square, cement building on Greatway Avenue.

​     HAZEL'S GYM said the sign over the front door. A sandwich board on the sidewalk read: SORRY FELLAS. THIS GYM IS FOR LADIES ONLY.

​     Right up my alley, Egoneg thought as he went inside.

​     The woman behind the counter in the lobby got one look at Egoneg and held out a hand in the universal manner that meant STOP! "I am sorry, but you are not wanted here, my friend."

​     "Someone told me to meet her here. She's...she's..." He thought, aw, fuck it, what am I even doing making up stories and lying? That's what the old Egoneg would have done, and that Egoneg's dead and gone forever and good riddance. 

​     Egoneg hit the clerk with a fear blast so fierce she dropped to the floor and frothed at the mouth.

​     It felt so warm in that lobby.

​     Egoneg didn't realize how cold he'd been until he went inside.

​     So, he thought.

​     Which way to the showers? 


​                                                         CONTINUE