Page 36 of Imbalanced Minds

Allowing a few hits here and there is easy. Getting out of my head while thinking of the shitty way I treated Iris is not. I start seeing red as I let the friendliness of this spar go and the fighter in me starts to come out of his cage. I start throwing some combinations at him, which I can guarantee he hasn’t even touched base with yet, and get carried away. Next minute, the instructor is on me, pulling me away with an even angrier Justin leaving the ring.

Dammit.

“You can let me go, I got carried away. Sorry.” I say to the instructor while holding my hands up in surrender. Taking the gloves off and walking over to Justin, I try apologising.

Before I get a word in, he’s on me like a tonne of bricks. “What was that? How the fuck do you know how to fight like that and why’d you go all Muhammad Ali on my arse?” he says getting all up in my face. I back up a pace, knowing my anger can get the better of me and after what just happened is a fine example of that.

“Justin, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to let loose on you like that. I lost control and that’s on me. I was thinking about how I let Iris down and how angry you are with me and I just lost it. I’m sorry.” I’m appalled at how I acted and hang my head low, defeated and disgusted with my behaviour.

“Mate, listen. I’m not gonna lie. You with my sister weirds me the hell out and is going to take some time to get my head around. I saw the way you looked at her the night we thought we’d lost her, and I saw the love and hurt in your eyes. I was so angry with everyone that night and I admit I’ve taken most of that out on you. I don’t hate you, but we do need to talk. How about we get out of these sweaty clothes and go grab a beer?”

Relieved and happy that I haven’t lost my best mate, I slap him on the back and agree.

Heading to the changing room, I try to think of how the hell I’m going to explain all of what happened to Justin.

Knowing what I have to do I man up and get myself ready for a trip down memory lane one more time.