w much weight I had put on; it was noticeable, but it wa

ll this?" I remarked as I continued

happened while I was away. I had spent most of my time in the house, except for the mo

, while others would wave or at least smile. Some I could only see through quickly shuffling curtains and shadowy silhoue

w much I had thrown away. On the third day, I completely started to avoid

ng ready for the trip to Chesher. I had be

th much more experience. Seeing him in person, one would think he was only a paren

aid, biting down

awkward one," Coach McKenney yell

him hurt in the third round, and I

owing a two-punch combo

t combination to be thrown from an orthodox stanc

ime to evade the left hook, but

unch. I felt it in my elbows,

d by Eddie!" the co

legs, he overshot his step, almost as if attempting the splits. He pulled ba

bout two thousand people that night fr

ti legs now!" I heard

; he wasn't prepared to step in, an

ht hook I threw; he leaned in, grabbing me, attempti

own goes 'Wale!" the commentator

corner; I had to stay switched on. The noise w

had wanted. This was my chance to make a statement, to get into the draws for the finals wi

ig

right?" The

rprisingly, just managing to

in

ef repeated with the Ago

es

right!" the

still shaken but he could c

ref yelled out

gingerly; I dipped, mi

ws an uppercut after a left hook

back, then down and forward. A million sweat parti

owd ga

nd grounding myself back to reality. I had reached a point where I was n

d my mo

r with my fist. It had just stopped raining th

ion. It couldn't be long anyway- the words were all too famili

ago. It was a longer conversatio

" I reassured her, the weight of

know, sweetheart. But remember, this is your chance f

rroundings. "I won't, Mum. This is the opportunity

t promise me you'll take care of yourself an

reality of leaving home was sinking in, and it was b

I glanced at the family photos on my dresser. Memories flood

eath, I opened the door, ready to e

d?" PJ q

od" I r

own. On the eve of my eighteenth birthday, I had been transferred to an adult facility a few weeks before my relea

d exterior, with a face that bore the scars of countless battles in the ring

would be leaving the state upon release

t productive time on the inside. He made me care again,

rescent lights flickered on each morning, we would sneak into the dimly lit corner of the yard for a brisk work

like a fight, kid. You gotta bob and weave, but never forget to throw your punches,

He possessed an intricate knowledge of the human body, exploiting specific points and employing peculiar punches. His movemen

He always found a way to unsettle his opponents, throwing them off balance with just

nd myself on the floor, defeated b

nst the rules?"

referee catches onto that?" His confidence in his unconventio

takes and the consequences he faced, using them as cautionary tales. It was during these moments t

n any way?" I asked

ze distant as if retracing the st

sponded with a q

gs were best left unknown. He was getting out on parole af

g impact. He had handed me a worn-out notebook, urging me to document my thoughts, dreams, and goals. "Wri

" I managed to

on there somewhere." He said as he packed his things the mo

there, I could hook you up. box a couple of softies lik

time soon.". I replied turn

. He said, nodding to acknowledge the

now sitting up "school, rem

tever kid, you got

he walked out, gettin

." He yelled out