San

20

myself. He wouldn't be little anymore. If I'm doing the math right, he'd be 22 by now-ripe for

like that?" A familiar v

-called little rascal, standing tall

he out, taking in his height. "

rects, a grin

ring. We met at The Gym, an underground club training fighters: boxers like myself, and martial artists-judo, Muay Thai fighters-like him. I was a lost cause back then, no

ent chasing our dreams, I realize something: he saved me. He

tray tear with the back of my hand. "

back and lead h

aurant, I can't help but laugh when we bump into a lady,

ize quickly, kneeling down t

?" Khalan asks, ben

t smiles. "Oh, it's alright, reall

he might know the area, I ask, "Sorry to bother you,

ctions, and we part ways

-

laughing as he goes on about my encounter with The

re telling me you were in the s

tall as he looks on TV. Rumor

happy that he's talle

me. I didn't just come here to catch up. I came here to tel

ow he might react. Disappointment? Anger? Pain? The thought of losing him makes

excitement for his upcoming

, Kh

ea

oat tightening.

self. He notices my silence and stops c

wrong?"

.. I can

A

taurant. I don't know whether to be re

" Khalan asks,

r. Another bang echoes, then another, fol

, we ne

a

tha

raw, it shattered everything. My ears rang, my vision b

ed inward. Not from a bomb. Not

er its shape. My brain scrambled to define it-wa

wor

ey look deformed, like something twisted and unnatural. Their arms are long and gangly

lan, shouting

A

, whispering prayers into the linoleum. Someone sobbed. Someone else threw

m-no, a nightmare I

the chaos for Khalan, but bef

O

hed directly into t

s. Shelves crumpled like pape