Derek looked at me.
“What the hell was that?”
I didn't say anything.
He attacked again.
This time I moved differently.
There is no missed movement.
No rage.
There are no wild swings.
Just distance.
Time.
Balance.
Every time he tried to use his strength, he redirected it.
Every time he rushed, he would chase me.
Thirty seconds became a minute.
One minute it became two.
Derek's breathing changed.
The crowd noticed.
His trust disappeared first.
Then your smile.
After three minutes I was breathing a lot.
At four o'clock, the sweat poured out of his face.
I was suffering.
My knee felt like someone had made a nail through it.
But he was still standing.
The timer showed:
4:32
to Claire.
Then, me.
“You military?”
I didn't answer.
He accused.
He threw away everything he had.
I slipped the first blow.
He blocked the second.
And when he tried to confront me, I used his impulse against him and put him on the carpet.
