Domino Effect

Part 3

 After this incident at the gym I had to work as a janitor at The Jab for a whole year. It was either that or I would be banned for a year, at least working at the gym allowed me to work on my boxing. Manel started to become an important figure in my life after I started to work in the gym. He would train me. We would practice my punches and try and increase my stamina. I became a whole different person. My punches were better, they carried more power and caused more damage to my opponents.

Everything that has happened in my life since I was a small child has brought me to the Olympics. If my mother hadn't have left me as a child, I wouldn't have needed to protect myself from my father, which lead me to everything else that happened in my life. I guess you could say I am thankful of my past even though it was rough.

Ariel Hernández captures my undivided attention as he steps closer to the middle of the ring. I copy his movements. The referee begins stating the rules and regulations. I forget about being nervous and step closer to my opponent. He looks very relaxed, like this match means nothing to him and he could do it in his sleep. The fight begins, we circle each other for a few seconds then he hits me with a body shot to my stomach. I respond with an uppercut to his jaw. His head snaps back for a millisecond then it whips back into position. The round ends after a few more punches are thrown. I am not even winded which is great because now I can use most of my energy in the next two rounds. The majority of the crowd is rooting for Ariel Hernández. I understood why; the man was gracious and swift, and an all around amazing fighter.

I walk over to Coach Manel and I sit on a stool that is placed by the ropes. I have one minute to listen to what he has to tell me. I'm not sure how much I really hear in what felt more like ten seconds than a full minute. I find myself getting off the stool and entering the ring once again. The round starts and I take a breath trying to relax. I land an uppercut to Ariel, but he easily blocks my second punch. He quickly connects with another body shot. The stinging feeling in my gut is overwhelming but I can't stop, and I won't, until I get that gold medal.

We begin the last round winded and bruised. I send a right cross to his upper body. In return he lands a right hook, but I block it. The exchange continue for what seems like hours, though in reality it was only three minutes. The last punch is delivered, and after three rounds of fighting, I hear the bell. Ariel's body hits the ground, he is knocked out. I fall to the ground also, gasping to catch to my breath.

The exhaustion of the fight swept over me. Someone helps me off of the ground, I look down and see the blood from not only me but also from Ariel Hernández. The referee takes my hand along with Ariel's. He raises mine high signifying that I had won the fight. The cheers from the crowd were deafening.        

                                                                                            * * *

The excitement runs through me as I feel to gold medal placed around my neck as I stand on the podium. The national anthem plays behind me and I can hear the thousands of people in the stands shouting, in either happiness or anger. I feel an overwhelming sense of pride as I stand there. The only thing I wanted to do was let this chapter of my life play on reply.

 Thank you for reading my short story and I hope you liked it!!