The Fight

An uppercut to an unprotected area. Round after round the same thing. The jabs that land. The hooks that unsettle. The combinations that leave you feeling bruised and battered. The breaks in between the rounds, at the moment, seem too short. You don't wonder. You don't have to dream. It is real. You are in it. A fight. Denying it only exposes you to a knock down. Turning your back only exposes you to a rabbit punch. You are being pushed against the ropes. You duck. You weave. You push back. You try to think up some escape tactics. You try to protect yourself. Sometimes you are too slow. A punch lands and it hurts. The last one almost knocked the wind out of you. But amazingly, you are still standing. Just before another punch comes, aimed at your face, you get out of the way. That was close. For a moment, you see the puzzled look in the eyes of the enemy. He thought he had you. He thought that you would surrender. But something keeps you in the fight. You somehow get the strength to do a little fancy footwork after that close call. The enemy steps back, even more puzzled. But a smile comes across his lips. He thinks he sees an opening. You continue your footwork keeping your eye focused on the enemy. He smiles even more, but you don't think about that. You can't be distracted by his smile. You can't be caught up with his smile. You know he is cunning. You have fallen to his schemes before. His feints that you bought. The pain you feel serves as a reminder. Briefly, you remember when he knocked out your mouthpiece. He begins his own footwork. His smile grows broader. Your hands feel heavy and almost too heavy to lift to defend yourself. Almost too heavy to throw a few punches of your own. This round seem a little longer than the previous one. You silently pray for the bell to ring to end the round. At this moment you remember the words of your coach, "I am here with you." You remember your coach is not only in the corner but also in you. You remember he is also your ringside physician. A few rounds ago you had the standing 8 count. Your enemy thought he had you then, but he was wrong. A smile starts on the inside. You get the strength to block just as the enemy throws a combination. Then you throw a counterpunch. The enemy is unsettled. He is surprised. You follow up with a combination. The enemy staggers backwards. He is against the ropes. You do a feint then a combination. Your punches land. He is on his way down when the bell rings. You walk backwards with an eye on the enemy knowing he may attempt a rabbit punch. Something changes in his eyes. He sees that you are believing. He senses that you are not depending on your own strength and skills, but that you are trusting and applying what your coach says. When you get to your corner, you fall into the arms of your coach/ringside physician. You whisper, "Thank you." He lovingly says, "You are mine, and I will never leave you." You are aware that there are more rounds to go, but you are encouraged. Your coach/ringside physician is your strength and encouragement. No matter what happens in the upcoming rounds, you will never be alone.