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week away, Ethan’s energy needed to be focused on his fight, not on some girl and her drama. These kind of outside the ring distractions wreaked havoc on a fighters’ careers. And it only took a single loss to derail a young career like his.
    “You know, Joe,” Ethan said with a smile, “That might be the best advice you’ve ever given me.”
    Joe smiled back, “Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
    Feeling as good as he had all day, Ethan left the gym, and drove back home.
    * * *
    Sara, now alone in her apartment watching TV, was as clear-headed as she had been all day. The redhead had felt downright oppressed at work, the anxiety of being in the same building as Ethan was disquieting. She was more than looking forward to the weekend—two days without work, and without drama from Ethan. Sara, with little else to do, went to bed early, and slept fitfully at best.
    She awoke earlier than she expected to, feeling strange. Sara flung open the curtains; oddly comforted by the piercing early morning light illuminating her apartment. She made herself breakfast and ate it in silence. Sara, having finished breakfast, began to clean her apartment. She vacuumed, scrubbed the floors, and cleaned the tub and bathroom. She even washed her sheets and clothes. By mid-afternoon Sara had cleared her entire apartment more thoroughly than she had since she had first signed the lease years ago. Still feeling herself in a daze, Sara wandered to her car.
    She climbed into the driver’s seat and took off. She made her way to the highway, and took the onramp going south. She wasn’t sure where she was going, but something compelled her to drive. She watched the city fall away, giving way to endless fields lying fallow in the winter. Sara wasn’t sure what she was looking for. She eventually found a rest stop. She stopped there, got gas and dinner. Sara watched the cars pass on the highway as the sun began to set. Everything felt transient. She finished her food and rose. She went the bathroom, but couldn’t quite bring herself to look in mirror. Sara drove back home as the sun slipped beneath the horizon, its rays still illuminated the clouds in purple and red hues.
    Ethan spent the weekend rotating between his bed, the couch in front of the TV, and reading. He did everything he could to keep the stimulation coming. He was an old hand at being hungry, and he knew that constant distraction was his friend. Ethan’s constant companion was his giant water jug. The large, one-gallon plastic container was his friend in the last week of weight cuts. It followed him and sloshed around as he took swigs from it l ike drunk moonshiner. His hunger kept any thoughts of Sara or Emily or the drama they seemed to bring at bay. Serious hunger had a way of focusing the brain on priorities. By Sunday Ethan’s body was no longer aching with soreness. The two days of true complete rest left him feeling better than he had in weeks. By the time Monday came around, he actually felt good, despite the intense hunger from the dieting.
    Ethan awoke and made his way to the shower, downing a few swigs from his jug that rested next to his nightstand as he entered the bathroom. He looked lean as ever, but somewhat less tired. He thought so anyway.
    Ethan drove in to work and entered the building. Against his better judgment, he made his way to Sara’s cubicle. He turned the corner and was shocked to see it empty.
    Ethan turned to the adjacent cubicle. “Did Sara get transferred?”
    The older woman turned to Ethan, “No, she came in early and said she was taking her remaining vacation days, and that would be her two weeks’ notice. She quit.”
    Ethan was shocked. He simply stared at her.
    “Were you guys sleeping together?” The woman asked invasively.
    Ethan pretended not to hear her. He turned and left, moving toward his office, all of a sudden feeling exhausted. He went to his cubicle and tried to throw himself into his work, but he found his mind