Into The Ring

I had no idea what Iwas getting into when I stepped into that ring. I thought it was gonna be mostly easy, ya know nothing that hurt too bad. I had seen other rings, some got beat more than others and it gave me a false sense of secure victory that I didn't deserve.

In the first few rounds, I dominated my opponent, thus increasing my ego, I hopped around dodging the swipes I saw that took others down, then a brief break. I was applauded for my swift moves and encouraged with the taps I received. I thought to myself that if the tiny hits I got were all it was then how weak were the others to not endure. Now back to my new set of rounds. I was told I leveled up, that it was gonna be harder. I arrogantly thought, "yeah, sure.", boy was I wrong. I got back in and managed to skip away from the first strikes aimed at me. Then came something I didn't anticipate.... a scream. That's all it took, the scream came, and I did the stupid thing of looking for the sound. I found it only to instantly wish I hadn't. That glance cost me dearly. My attention came back to my opponent just in time to receive my first major blow that forced me to the floor. Thankfully my opponent waited a moment before attempting another strike that I deftly avoided.

This gave me sufficient time to gather what little wits I had to move away and get back up; I stumbled a little but managed to stay vertical. I realized then that I had been sadly mistaken with my abilities. So, I learned to pay attention to my ring quickly; the screams came frequently, designed I'm sure, to distract me, and they did a little but not enough to land me a blow like that first one. It went on like this for several more rounds, it almost started to feel tedious. Then we were done with this set, and I went to my corner...my safety. I was a little winded and a little bruised but healing.

"Time to move up the ranks." I was told, I watched as my opponent changed. Something was very different, but I won't know for sure till we fight the next set.

I anticipated a harder challenge, not wanting to take the advice given lightly again. I learned not to underestimate my opponent...or so I thought. The bell tolled ordering my participation. I felt stronger getting back in, like my previous rounds were nothing more than strength training. I made good strides, kept my distance when needed and attacking any opening I could. My head started to inflate, and I began to make mistakes that went unnoticed by me. I felt suddenly that I was being played with as the air began to hiss out of my ego. My opponent squared off intimidatingly and took dangerous strides at me in a way that birthed a genuine sense of fear. Again, a sound I was not expecting caused my attention to shift; only this time I couldn't look away from the sight. It broke my heart to witness someone else in their ring loose. I saw them reach for me and I stupidly took a step to help them, to try to save them.

It was then that my opponent struck and struck hard. I felt the wind leave my lungs from the blow to my undefended back. My eyes still on the poor soul in their ring. My opponent struck again, kicking me around the ring, it was like that other person syphoned all will and reason to defend myself when their ring went black indicating that they didn't survive their last attack. I took the kick and punches and still didn't defend myself. I heard my opponent whisper in my ear, "You're finished." It was almost a cruel sound had I cared enough to be afraid. That was when they put me in a strangle-hold to slowly take my life and I was letting it happen. After what felt like forever, I felt a violent yank from behind, and I could breathe again, my body went limp to the floor, and I responded sluggishly. I heard commotion but couldn't decipher what was being said, then I felt someone shaking me, forcing me back to awareness, forcing me to make my limbs work. I heard fighting, someone was being retaliated on, I wondered who and who was delivering it.

I woke up later in my corner of the ring and saw the back of someone much bigger, defending me. I kept hearing, "GET UP!", "You can't quit! I won't let you.", and "You have to keep going.", I have to? Since when? I was very annoyed that I wasn't allowed to waste my time in the ring. But since I was here, I forced myself to do what the voices told me to just to shut them up. I stumbled back into the fight, I got hit more, fell more; but I didn't quit. The voices wouldn't allow me, nor would my new companion. They took the heavier blows without blinking while encouraging me to fight harder. I did as I was asked and as I got back my senses I began to understand more, process my fight more easily and move faster. I realized all too late that my companion had left the fight and went back to their duties for the rings, and my opponent had changed yet again. Not just in appearance but in their style of attack. It was almost seductive, I was lured in time and time again, and it gained momentum and with it a cost I only now became aware of.

The price was on the brink of being forced from me when I took a blow that dropped me to my hands and knees. I was aware that my opponent kept hoping I would just submit and stay down. But I looked up this time, not willing to pay the price demanded of me and rose with a fury I didn't know I had and fought back against the lure. I found a new way to defend myself and built on. I found myself watching more closely at my opponent and my surroundings for any shift, any change, or cue that would help me. I found my opponent getting fiercer, becoming angrier that I withstood the shots they delivered. Their rage became my strength, I endured the blows better and stayed on my feet longer. I was beginning to get the sense of repetition and it annoyed me and tired me at times; but here I stand, my wounds healing and still the fight making me stronger. There were short breaks, but they never felt long enough to catch my breath.

I don't know how much longer I am to be in the ring. I don't know how many more rounds I am to fight or if another major blow is coming that I won't be able to survive, but one thing is for sure, the one who defended me all those rounds ago, still encourages me to keep going and to keep fighting. I hear the cheers from the crowd watching the fights, even they want me to win.

The End