HUNDRED AND TWO

JORDAN

I put on everything- from the gloves, the protective gear, the shoes. If not that it has become a routine, I would have forgotten what I was doing.

Or how the hell to put the damn shoes on.

It was all so heavy, that I wished I could kick it off, but I knew I needed it to protect myself. Never going to the ring barefooted!

I took one last look in the mirror, my face a mask of worry. I wonder how I haven’t lost some weight, I think too much for my good.

‘I am ready for this.’ I began to assure myself.

I walked out of the locker room, through the back door, and into the arena.

The crowd was going wild, screaming and cheering as they saw me enter.

I tried to block it all out, and focus on the fight ahead. And carefully, even with the bouncers guilding me past them, I made sure none of them touched me.

My opponent was already in the ring, his eyes locked on me.

Then I remember I don’t even know his name.

I was beginning to think he was some newbie until his name was announced.