The Great Revelation

The water was so clouded with dirt and dust that it was hopeless to try and wash my hair, but Jasper slid behind me and gently took my curly red hair into his hands. One more moment of contentment I promised myself, before I have to tell him. I would also like to have some clothes on to face him. He poured some liquid soap into his hands and began to massage it into my scalp. It felt wonderful so I just leaned back and relaxed, thinking vaguely about the impeding talk. He stopped lathering my hair and I dunked my head under once more to wash out the soap. My clean hair dripped water in trails down my back as I stood up. Jasper handed me a towel and I wrapped my body up in the graying but comfortable cloth. I tucked the ends around my chest and turned to Jasper who still kneeled at the head of the tub.
“Should we talk? Let me get dressed.” I said. He nodded and got to his feet. Before he reached the door he turned around with his hand on the knob. He looked at me but didn’t say anything. I almost spoke, but before I could he opened the door and shut it quietly behind him. I toweled off quickly and slipped into my battered breeches and tunic. My hair was still wet, so I shook it and put it on top of my head with a tie. Sighing I looked at myself in the looking glass, and was shocked at my reflection. Dull grey eyes looked out at me from a pale gaunt face. It didn’t even look like me, it looked like someone else. There were scratches down the side of my neck that I didn’t remember getting and one side of my mouth was slightly puffy. Taking a deep breath, I straightened my back and headed for the door. Jasper had laid out on the bed, Thayer beside him. He looked up at me as I came out of the washroom and I smiled.
“You look beautiful.” He said, completely serious. I laughed and shook my head.
“You really do look pretty.” He replied a little puzzled.
“Jasper…. We have to talk now.” He nodded in agreement and sat up on the pallet. I sat down next to him. Thayer stirred behind us and we both looked to see what was wrong. He stretched and settled back into sleep.
“I don’t really know how to tell you or even where to begin.” I sighed.
He looked at me. “Why? What could possibly be so bad or hard to tell me that you wouldn’t know where to begin? You can tell me anything.” He said.
“Be careful when you say that. I think that my worst fear is that you will not understand or worse, you will hate me after what I tell you.” He looked skeptical that something could be that horrible.
“Artie I…..” I cut him off. I didn’t want him to say it. I didn’t want him to say I love you, not until he knew the whole truth about who and what I was, and more importantly who Thayer was.