attack if they learn their daughter is somewhat of a champion at underground martial art, thanks to Hayden. And there’s no way to tell Ma

front of the mirror to start my stretches. I hear the faint cheering from outside and my heart skips a beat. Ten more minutes until my turn. Swiping my brown hair out of

fighting another champion. My palms grow clammy at the thought of lo

ows, I recognise the voice as C

.” I snatch the bandage on the table holding the rest of my belonging

r of my tube, making sure to avoid looking at the discolouration on my stomach and upper thighs. The do

ate

family. I hate looking at my body, to be reminded I am this way. Hayden doesn’t have it, neither do my parents. One day, I am a normal teenager, the next day, I have spots on my stomach, my back, legs as if

my eyes with the heel of my hand. I can't change my body. This is not the time to feel bad about that, it i

sage. Only one person texts me this much, she hates calls as much as I do. I giggle at the picture of Ma

the only way her parents will truly agree with her decision of skipping college is if she finds a label to push her career forward. I dare not think of skipping college, my parents will send me to a counsellor. Be

can't go out there witho

witching of the knob and the answ

posite the vanity, I pull out a chair and lower myself into it, foldi

s. “You

knows my real age and is fine with me coming here alone as long a

I am nervous, I am always nervous before every fight but tonight, I'm

ick, bushy beards, big body and tattooed sleeves. I nod and he ruffles my hair. “Remember to throw your punches this way, not that.” He balls his hand into a fist and punches the air to demonstrate his point. I

and jab the air from under. Coach whistles. “Attagirl.” He raises

ws I have two more hours until my curfew, I pop my knuckles and twist my neck. I need to win the ten grand even if I don't need it. Each round takes about forty minutes. If I stick to what I know and have alwa

ress

rom my neck and head for the door. I stop at the sound of Coach’s voice, a bit hesitant to face him, he

up on me as I repeat the words and I gulp. “Your mask.” Oh. My eyes lower to the black mask he stretches t

rawing me in for a side hug and I stay in his embrace longer than I should have. Kissing my pendant for good luck, I step into the audi

ring and that odd feeling returns with intensity. I assess him from a corner of my eyes, walking slowly to the ring with a calm I don’t feel. Dude is a brick of muscles and I

round of cheers. I smile through my mask, this win will be for them too. I touch my chest one last time t

. That unmasked guy b

y vein, I turn, ready to r

h

ing

my op