I hate the feeling of despair and vulnerability. It feels as if I was a new circus freak and my nerve damage was starting to show as I was losing control. It felt to me like life never gives anything for free. Life forces you to knock down doors, only to knock you back with loneliness and misery. I drew the blanket higher over my head when I felt Jared rolling away from me and getting up from the bed. We rarely spoke a word to each other last night because I was moping around. Coach Mason’s training session didn’t even help to distract my thoughts. My jabs and fighting style were fueled by anger, despair and a whole lot of hurt. I expected every touch of my knuckles colliding with the hook and jab mitts coach Mason was wearing and holding up, to at least help make my anger dissolve.

