Bout of futility

The drums rolled with spirited melody, givingrenewed inspiration to thecrowd. The cheers went into the air like wild fire, and expectations heightened immediately. It was time forthemuch-awaited fight. The fight between I; Uzor, of Ndebeli and Kwame, theson ofthe Supreme chief of Okaza. However, this was no ordinary fight! It was a bout to win the heart of the princess. It is tradition... Itis the way it has always been. Eight of the strongest men in all the eight major clans would fight in twos until one of them could no longer move or gives up. I knew I would beat Kwame. He was but a cockroach trying to wrestle a cock. I chuckled at his delusion as I sharpened my beak. He probably thought he stood a chance. His foolishness was a much bigger rival than he was.
The drummers halted as the king blessed the fight. All eyes turned to thebeautiful princess. Her eyes were beautiful as the early morning river and her smile, radiant like thesunset behind the mountains. My heart melted. I was still in a state of reveriewhen I feltthe first punchon my face. The bouthad begun.
Everyone laughed at me as I struggled for balance. Kwame gave me no space to breathe or think. He was like a swarm of bees, attacking my body from all corners. Still, he was a cockroach. My fist landed on his tummy at the slightest opportunity of freedom I managed. He jumped back and made to pounce once morebut the force of my second blow piloted him off course. I kicked him as he sought the sand for balance. Now I was in control. The crowd cheeredmynameand I basked in the euphoria of victory. I could taste it. I could taste thesweet flesh oftheprincess on my tongue. I cast a sideward glance at my trophy and shesmiled atme. Oh,how that smile melted my heart and carried me like a chariotof magical horses.
I turnedto look at my opponent once morebuthe was no longer there. My eyes scurried in search, and out of the blue,Ifelt athunderous pounding on my back, right on my spinal cord thattook me to my knees. I groaned in painas another hit my spine. This little cockroach was relentless. I rolled away from his path and tried to stand on my feet, but the grinding pain made me shriek in anguish. It was too much… I could barely stand. What had he done to me? My eyes fluttered and I saw the image of Kwame sprinting toward me to hammer another heavy blow, but I ducked and dodged.I caughthis neck with the last gasp of strength in me despite the excruciating pain. I lifted him with one handand supported his waist with the other. His weight on my broken back was agonizing but I still struggled to slam him on the floor witha forcethat scaredthe dust to astir. Thecrowd wentsilent… the air paused… the birds flewaway from the trees asI fell to the ground too. I had won the fight. Kwame could not move. However, mybackwas broken, so neither couldI.
I looked up atthe faces of everyone. I looked up at the face of the king. I looked up at the face of my prize. I looked upatthe face of reality,andit told me the hard truth. The princess would notmarrya man with a broken back.
THE END!!!