Page 10 of My Turn Petal
Theo
AsItransfertheweight of my body to my front foot, and then retrieve it to my back foot while I pivot my body to the side, my hook hits the punching bag with immaculate force.
I swing my arm again and exhale with each hook I deliver.
After I left Frankie’s shop I came straight here to take it all out on something that can’t hit back.
Boxing in the gym is another place where I let loose and discard all of my awful energy.
My mom signed me to every class I showed interest in when I was younger. Although she raised me on her own as a single parent and wasn’t able to afford it, she never prevented me from anything. Wanting me to experience different worlds in order to figure out what it is I like.
There is something very therapeutic in boxing.
I am not looking for a fight, that’s not the point of boxing. The reward is to watch your muscles work as they gain strength with technique, perseverance, and discipline.
I switch to a different combo, pretending there’s a faceless person in front of me.
I fully extend my lead fist and jab twice toward the head before I cross with my rear hand and send a hook with my lead fist to the body, using the same hand to whip a hook to the head and finishing when I whip with the rear hook to the body.
I know it’s not smart to do exercise after a tattoo but I needed to occupy myself in something else other than my fuckup earlier.
How could I have been so insensitive to her?
Ugh, it came out so bleak and not how I should have treated the situation. It was definitely in the wrong place, the wrong time.
Cross, lead, uppercut, cross. The punching bag is swinging while I try to find a way to fix what I may have ruined with Frankie.
“What should we order?” I ask Frankie as she extracts water bottles from her fridge.
Taking one sip, she responds, “Ugh, I would die for some chicken nuggets right now.”
“Don’t die on me, I’ll make a quick run and get us some food.” Taking my keys, I check my rear pocket for my wallet.
She hands me the second water bottle, “I had a really long session today, she was the only client since her tattoo is massive and I want to get all the details right.” She throws her body on her couch. “I’m exhausted, please feed me.”
My heart starts to pick up speed as I watch, every gorgeous part of her. Knowing her for almost two years, I still feel like there’s more to learn, more to unravel.
“Don’t fall asleep, I’ll be right back,” I say as I head to the door.
“Wait.”
I stop in my tracks, turning halfway.
“Take the spare key from the tissue box on the kitchen counter.” She points.
I curve a brow, smirking as I reach the counter and dig inside the box. “That’s original.”
“I have a weird sense of humor.” She giggles to herself, looking half asleep already. “I think we should have a secret key exchange in case of an emergency. You should have my spare key and I could have yours. Only if you want.”
I spin the metal key in my hand, “Would that make you feel safer?” I question.
“Yes.” She replies in her hoarse voice. “It’s the responsible thing to do since we both live alone. What if something happens and one of us needs help because we can’t reach the door or we’re out?”
“You make valid points, petal.” I put the key in my jean’s front pocket. “I’ll leave my key in your tissue box when I get back, deal?”
Eyes clenched shut, she makes a tiny laugh, “Deal.”
I put my stuff in my gym duffel bag and take my earphones out. Scrolling through some new audiobooks I got myself, I press on one I recently purchased.
