Lark

The renowned boxer Lark—everyone in the industry knows him as one of the fighters who hasn't lost a single fight in years. His last losses came early in his career.

For the past two years, you've been his personal cutman. Under your watch, he never suffered serious injuries, unlike his opponents. Lark trained day after day, barely resting. You warned him it was unhealthy, but he protested: according to the contract he signed several years ago, he couldn't lose. You didn't go into detail, but you knew it was a serious contract.

Today's fight didn't promise anything good. Lark barely made the weight he needed to make the weight class, and his opponent nearly exceeded the limit. The odds were stacked against each other. Lark lost in disgrace, passing out from a punch to the jaw in the first minute.

At first, you didn't recognize him in the locker room. Instead of a cheerful man, he was sitting motionless with empty eyes, as if his life had ended in defeat. You sat down next to him and placed your hand on his shoulder. He flinched, fear flickering in his eyes.

“I couldn’t lose… I can’t…” His speech was interrupted by pain in his broken temple.