When I see the regional silver gloves
It takes me to the championship fight
Late at night with a packed house
The crowd is so loud
Continuing their cheering
The roar drowning out all noise
We are in the middle of the ring
Time for the decision
The anxiety and anticipation
Rising, about to burst out like lava
Finally it comes…
My hand is the one being held up
Happiness flooding my body
A dam inside my body has burst
Knowing I get to go to nationals
Knowing I just won

Joy, happiness, success
But that is not my story
My story is waking up in the hotel room
It’s the night before the fight
It’s about 2 a.m. and my mom is on the phone
She sounds worried
But…
I fall back asleep
Then the second call comes
That dreadful call
The call that rings in my head
Waking me up again
But this time is different
The news hits me
Like a shot straight through the chest
Leaving a scar forever embedded in me
My two cousins were in an accident
Hit by a drunk driver
Up all night crying
Not getting the chance to fight
But worse
Losing the cousins I had been raised with
Grown up with
My brother
My friend
That memory always coming back
Like the wall in my way

Every time I return to regionals
Every time I return to that night