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Once inside, they faced off for their instructions from the ref and parted with a brief hand touch. Fist touch. Whatever. A sign of respect, at least Tegan understood that. She held her breath, waiting for the ring bell.
* * *
“Now, you remember what we said about this first round. Move, throw fakes. Keep him off balance and guessing...” Robert said loudly over the crowd. “Hey! Wake up!”
Owen nodded, acknowledging the advice but ignoring the concern in his father’s voice as the bell sounded. He moved several steps ahead and bounced on the balls of his feet, waiting for Williams. Owen danced away, barely dodging two swings and swatting away a low kick attempt. Then Williams' fist came hurtling towards him...
* * *
“Oh, excellent shot by Williams! Gasnier really got tagged.”
“Tagged? That hit rocketed into his head! I think Gasnier is staggering... what a shot...”
“He’s definitely trying to re-balance. Williams has to take advantage... and now he does, here he comes!”
“Gasnier backing up, trying to get some distance... his back has hit the cage! Well, what’s going on there? It’s like he has no ring awareness?”
“The ref is going to have to watch that. He may be concussed. If that’s the case, this fight is over already... or it may be right now! Left and right by Williams. Bang! Bang!”
“Gasnier has to do something quick...”
“He’s holding him, John. Trying to suck in the big ones. I’ve never seen anything like this. Who expected this? Oh, he’s cut... Gasnier is cut. Just under the right eye... he’s in big trouble.”
“Williams is not letting him breathe! Unloading with both fists as Gasnier tries to cover up... oh yes! Finally, a retaliation! Gasnier stings him with a beautiful dodging uppercut. AND HE EXPLODES OFF THE CAGE WITH A KNEE! Williams is down!”
“But if Gasnier stays true to his word, he won’t take advantage. No... look. He’s staying back. He’s letting Williams get up...”
“I cannot believe that! He could’ve won the match right there...”
* * *
“WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU FUCKING CRAZY!? HIT HIM!” Tegan shrieked through her tears. A nurse popped her head around the wall to tell her to keep it down and watch her language only to dodge a water jug thrown by Tegan. “YOU FUCK OFF, AND FUCK OFF NOW!”
Tegan looked to Fiona. She was the fight expert. Surely, she had some answers, some reassurance. Something! But Tegan was surprised again. Fiona. Silent. Highlighted by the fact she had her fingers pressed hard against her lips, her eyes not moving from the screen. She too, was at a loss for words. She had no idea what was happening, or what was going to happen...
* * *
The bell sounded, bringing a roar from the crowd as they loved the back and forth between the two. They wanted their money’s worth. Owen sat on the stool in his corner after being helped there by Robert.
A voice he only barely recognised spoke to him. The ref. “Owen, if you get in trouble one more time, I’m stopping this, understand?”
“Yeah, yeah, you won’t have to, Lou...” Robert said, pressing the ice pack into Owen’s head. Once the ref had turned his back, Robert said, “I have to stop this thing... we should never have fought tonight. I fucking knew you weren’t ready.”
“Stop this fight... I’ll kill you,” Owen heaved.
“It’s done. You’re done.”
Owen grabbed his father’s hand, stopping him from going over to the ref. “I can’t quit. If I lose, I lose. I HAVE to do this...” Owen closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing but instead, images popped into his mind. Of Tegan. The way she looked the last day he saw her. He knew why she said what she said. That she was trying to be strong for them both. But it didn’t make the loss and distance any easier. He knew he had to focus on what he had to do, but, the more he tried, all he saw was her smiling face. This beating was nothing compared to what she was going through. “I have to do this on my feet. Win or lose... for her.”
“What? What are you talking about?”
Owen ignored the question even though Robert asked again. Instead, he rose to his feet, staring across at Williams who was doing the same.
* * *
“Tegan, you need to relax...” the nurse said.
“Get that syringe out of my face and I will...”
