Team Whittier's locker room was full of excitement.
Around Damon, his coaches and teammates were singing with words of encouragement, pats on the back, and congratulations.
But while everyone was engrossed in the moment, Damon was losing himself in his own thoughts.
He couldn't help but wish he had a phone and call his mother.
He wanted to tell her how far he had come, how much he had achieved.
But even though he knew she was proud of him, he doubted she was watching his fight.
He didn't blame her either.
Watching your child step into a cage, risking everything, wasn't something every parent could handle.
Damon leaned back on the bench, his hands resting on his knees, his mind racing.
The room around him was full of noise, conversations, laughter, the sound of victory.
Yet in his own head, things felt quiet. Reflective.
He exhaled slowly, focusing on what was coming next.
The final fight.
