Mate: Part One
My stomach still fluttered with nerves.
As the stretching ended, mats were pulled out, the dull thud echoing across the gym. A few of the boys paired off immediately, playful but rough, already testing each other. My throat tightened. This was it- the part where I'd have to move and fight.
"You'll start with stance," she explained. She shifted into position, feet apart, knees bent, arms raised. She looked steady, grounded, like nothing could knock her over. "This is the foundation. Without a strong stance, nothing else works."