"Do you even lift?"

I was struck out of his silent thoughtful obsession with purification by the sudden question from my masked friend. "What?" I question, at a loss.

"Do you even lift? Can you even lift? Have you ever lifted? Do you even lift?"

The question was oddly startling to me. I sat, pondering for a moment, confused. Dazed. Do I even lift? Do I. Even. Lift? What? How? Lift? Words swirled in my head as my jaw slowly dropped along with my knees. "Do I...even lift...?"

My soul screamed for an answer. My brain searched but found nothing. Do I even lift? A blinding headache burst forth as my soul searching only came up with nothing. I felt the meaning to my life slipping away.

Can I ever lift?

Will I ever lift?

I look to my only friend for an answer, and I feel the reply that I dread coming on.

"No."