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Thunders of fans roared in the arena as Winter stood out in the MMA ring splattered with cuts and bruises.
Her black outfit is already drenched and besmirched from her strenuous fight. This red-dressed opponent lunged forward when she hit one solid punch across her face. The hit staggered her with blurred vision into which she took a gasp into the crowd.
Winter felt a shiver of exhaustion as she moved forward, doing her best to get an extra speed from her aching muscles. Almost there and then she heard it: the ticking sound signalled that time was almost up.
She squeezed out the aches with a shot of adrenaline and got on stance, righting to take in a deep breath. Her body morphed into motion with intent determination-a one-minded purpose.
She leapt forward, swinging herself through the air, so that when she brought her heel slamming home her best move, her foot swept right into her opponent's face and slammed into them so hard the force sent her flying straight back, down on her knees, before crashing onto her face.
However, the ref interrupted it by starting to count. Winter interlocked her fists and held her breath as though it were an eternity until seconds passed.
10. 9.
The crowd was screaming with deafening cheers.
8. 7.
Her opponent was lying on the ground motionless.
3. 2... 1. Vic.
"YES!" Winter shouted, but her voice went unheard amidst the roar of the crowd.
She ran around the ring, arms open wide, happy, free from all the worries of the world pure joy. Energy filled the air in the crowd as they cheered for her victory-through a raised hand given to her by the referee, proclaiming her champion.
Winter turned to her opponent, who just got up and two hugged in mutual respect, smiling at each other with bruises.
She stepped out of the ring, and her mother rushed up to enclose her in a tight hug.
"I am so proud of you!" she exclaimed, squeezing her daughter tight.
And then Giselle and Ningning burst forth, running forward with squeals and laughter as they pulled Winter into a jumping circle of celebration. They laughed so hard they nearly lost their balance, caught in the whirlwind of Winter's victory.
Giselle grinned and reached into her pocket to pull out her phone.
"Winter, go get a picture with Mrs. Kim!"
In one split second Winter reached to grab her mom's arm, flashed the brightest grin she could from her sweat-drenched, bruised face, and Giselle snapped the photo, capturing all of Winter's unbridled joy.
But then she realized, as she struck the pose, something strange.
Her feet were wet.
She looked down, scowling at her own confusion, and found the floor beneath her was slick with water and glistening.
