I couldn’t, wouldn’t do it
Even if it cost me
Everything I had worked for
She stood in front of me
Beckoning, it was ok
She knew the price
All eyes were on me
Would I do it?
How could it be ok?
My own eyes were on me
My soul was watching itself
No, my brain, muscles and spine were
Aligned
In the middle of that arena
On that mat
I spun that kick
Too short
Too slow
Too low
I couldn’t hit her
It was against everything
Every grain, every lesson
But there was something else
I loved her
My first love
As my head turned
Milliseconds before my heel
I saw her
She had moved
Shorter, faster, lower
Towards me
My heel connected
With her perfect nose
But she didn’t go down
I grabbed her
Against protocol
Profusely apologizing
She smiled amidst the blood
And said “I can take a hit,
“You didn’t knock me down”
My first love
Stepped into a kick
So I could get a black belt at 12
-What has your love done for you?