The Tattered Heart of a Boxer

A piece I wrote very early in my life, at a time when I looked to my own writing for hope.

Right hook. Left jab. Uppercut. My life spirals as fate knocks me down. I hold my heart in my gloves and every punch squeezes and stings.

I want to step out of the ring. To give up on that belt and leave, forever. To throw in the towel and feel eternal nothingness.

But I won't. Do you hear me fate? You may be my opponent and you can batter me over and over again. Left jab. Left jab. Uppercut. I will fight back and claim the title of loved.

Gut shot. I feel my insides curl and spin. 3 broken ribs, popped and I puke. That's fate. I lay on the ground another round lost, a question mark on the round tally.

The spotlight is blinding and I can't breathe. People surround me, try to pull me up again... is it worth it? I crawl back to my corner ignoring the few outstretched hands and face inwards.

Fate is unscathed as ever practically laughing at me. You set me back again and again. Why do you silence my screams, I tried over and over and just as I get the upper hand you find a way to crush my fist and turn my heart to mush. How is that fair?

I grab the top rope and pull myself up spit out my mouthguard, drink my water and spit the remnants of bile and blood into a bucket. I stand up and throw my mouthguard in.

I'm bruised and destroyed, a tattered cloth in the desert, but this fight isn't over till one of us is unconscious. Right hook. Left jab. Dodged the uppercut.

Reviews

[Karen Redburn]

Boxing a metaphor for a tough life. I like it! You've done this very well, the only suggestion I can think to offer is can this man get a new boxing partner just for a moment. Maybe love can dance in on light feet and strike with a few soft blows in the end? Just an idea, forgive me as I love endings with a bit of hope. Great job, my friend, cheers!

[syther]

Thank you for the advice, I actually wrote this a long time ago, I'm a lot more hopeful now and recently wrote a sequel to this piece that I may upload over the next few days

[Karen Redburn]

Nice, send a read request if you want to. Would love to read the sequel!

[Christoforo]

i really like the way you wrote this, also the metafor of boxing is beautiful. and how you discribed everything