The sun had risen just enough to finally break though the distant horizon. The water vapor in my breath escaped past my lips and instantly began to freeze as it battled the cool morning air, producing a light cloud in front of my face, with each exhale. The sound of my feet constantly echoing through the city as I continued to run, continued to train for my match at All or Nothing. The only thing that seemed to be alive this early, was also the only thing that kept me running for well over an hour, my fixation on winning.
I followed my destiny all the way to WZCW and was confident that it would continue to guide me to where I needed to be. I was confident that I could blindly walk down its path, and discard every obstacle that tried to deter me. I failed in achieving what I NEEDED to and deserved to be punished.
Just as fast as I had begun marching down the path towards my destiny of being the best in WZCW, Celeste Crimson quickly threw me off of it and continued her wake of dominance without giving me a second glance.
It was no surprise that even my destiny had even begun to doubt me. I had to start from the bottom and prove myself to destiny. Instead of taking me on the path that allows me to climb the ladder and challenge the elite in WZCW, I was discarded and left to wallow in matches with the likes of James Baker, Corey Payne, Blade and Milenko…twice.
I was surprised that I was graciously given a chance at salvation so quickly. A chance at redemption has been placed in front of me on a silver platter. Cautiously I accepted it and here I am now.
I worked hard to prepare for my previous match with Celeste. Trained every day, ate right, and took my vitamins. I knew no amount of praying could help me during that match so I didn’t bother. I knew I needed to work harder. I could not lose this match again. It was not the actual act of losing that I now feared. I have lost before. It was the fear of how my destiny would react. How would it punish me again? Sometimes I feel like it let off easy, I know its punishment could have been swift and just. I know that once I fail again, its wrath would be felt ten fold.
Destiny was a cruel friend. Please it and you would be treated well. Fail and it could be the end of everything. The end of your career, or worse, the end of everything. I knew that destiny was capable of quick destruction and it showed me that in Japan by the hands of my own brother. I feared what destiny would do to me this time if I lost at the hands of Celeste again. I knew that like a shark smelling blood, Celeste could just as easily sense the fear in her opponent. I could only hope that someone she wouldn’t feel the fear inside of me. After all, it wasn’t the fear of facing Celeste, it was the fear of dealing with the consequences of losing.
I continued to run, my legs burning with each contact with the paved road. I wanted to quite a long time again, but was too driven to give in. I was determined to give it all out here, much like I was going to in the ring this Sunday.
Celeste will feel…the…RUSH. Ha! That’s what I said to her last time. The only rush she must have felt was in the satisfaction of handing me my first…and only loss in WZCW. Celeste has always been the only mountain that I could not fully climb. I feel no shame in that fact. Celeste is one of the hardest competitors I have ever gone toe to toe with. Even now that I know exactly what she is capable of once she gets into that ring, it doesn’t matter because she is smart enough to change her game plan. This match is going to feel like this is our first match up. I have zero advantage going into this match.
But on the flip side, Celeste beat me, Blade beat her, I beat Blade. So in theory, I already beat Celeste….Even that vague lie didn’t help diminish the fear. Maybe because I knew it was bullshit.
I finally stopped running when I my heart reached the point where my heart felt like it was going to break through my chest. Physically, I would be more than ready to look across the ring and into Celeste’s eyes. Once again, I knew Celeste would feel the Rush. I was prepared for this match. One of the biggest of my career. No titles, only pride and a chance at redemption stood on the line.
I knew that I needed to win, yet I couldn’t help but prepare myself for the consequences of losing.
