Rings of Redemption

. The place was much quieter than I expected, the football tryouts were supposed to begi

was sitting across from where I stood, engro

oth expressing our mutual dislike for

ns, boss. I have other significa

session for the same time tomorrow,

ntually caught on, offering a wry smile. "Well, it's you

do have some calculus to catch up on. I looked around for a comforta

for about 30 minutes when I

for the tryo

ded, returnin

me already I thought. I looked over, And

I got up to pack up my b

. I had only now noticed that there was a group of 3 students gathered by one of th

stop in time, we collided. It felt like I had run into a rigid structure, like a wall. I fell backwards,

fuffle. I took a moment to gather myself on the gym floor, eyes sti

my hand was being crushed, there was a sudden pull to follow, with my legs positioned ju

uder than I would normally talk, I

soft voice announce. I op

triking my left shoulder with tw

my best to hide my pain as

slightly to find her face. She had long, toned arms with visible muscles rippling beneath her skin.

"Uhmm, We need some help hanging the heavy bag." she continued, point

o subside. "Is that a boxing ring?" I q

over towards the group, a

t? "Like a wall or something," I remarked looking back to examine where I had fallen.

ted from where she was now standing. H

, lifting my right thu

bered I was here to meet. She wasn't diffic

alright?"

so," I re

inced. "I keep running into all sorts of trouble," I sta

she said. "Here let me" sh

." I manag

sound tore through the room like the sound from an old revolver shot in rapi

ob, Mik

me

ered on as the culprit from b

n surprise hoping to see

id, identifying the culprit and her company. "That's how I know that

day; the bell

'Half of a Yellow Sun' by Chimamanda

ondered the idea of spending it in the gym and utilizing the gym time for the fre

author?" a student

the idea of being a West African author. It keep

et out a he

reaching f

d in a green oversized T-shirt that accentuated her eyes, paired with black combat trousers. He

you," I replied. Wonderi

w..." I attempt

errupted. "Go on then" she conti

ou." I i

ad to examine my phone. The wallpaper was my

or longer than we had actually been. I wondered why she w

parring partner

trange request to make in boxing, I had seen male and female boxers spar several times, at least at the amateur level. What

each other

emember me?"

know you to begin with" I confirmed, I was

trade you that information for one ses

be next time," I replied standing to walk away. I had just gotte

the desk. I hurriedly ret

to be part of a club or something anyway? Newbie.

hone. I looked up at her, she was looking right back at me with a serious gaze, a very stern disciplined l

e announced, zipping up

ng emotions, acting with caution, and taking ever

done too much," I tried to rationalize "Lets

nch had allowed me to forget the phone i w

on the floor next to where her bag had been. It had written on it "CPHS Boxing

ing session. She was getting

s rung out, leather striking leather, it resembled gunshots. It grew louder as I approached th

rised, sweat dripping down her face,

gether. Had she called in these people as well? Hoping to embarrass me

ad thrown a pair of gloves directly at my face, but they

g through her gum shield, waving m

en a while since I boxed, I admitted realizing how m

a trap, it was cer

discomfort in my hands. It's only sparring Eddie, use y

arting a sideways jog, familiarizing my

t to the door, closing my eyes for a

oke, I couldn't tell which her name was. As she got closer, I could smell a hint of sweat mixed with her perfume, a sweet and floral scent that

k!" she announced after a while, almost outside

place. We both nodded at each o

s go