Sometimes...

Sometimes the things we feel we most have to do are the last things we want to do.

Since James Braddock had gotten back to New Jersey he had thrown himself into his training. He had trained hard before the trip and the rest had done him good, physically. Now he was sharpening up, perfecting his edge. But he didn't want to be there in the gym.

He wanted to be with Ivy. This fight was both an obstacle and a means to accomplish that goal. The purse would allow him not only to go back to Australia and maybe have the honeymoon he had envisioned. But also to provide for her in a way that he would be unable to otherwise. As always he wasn't the wisest investor he'd lost his savings several times over during his career. This was a chance to make things right for Ivy.

But something was missing. He knew that he both wanted and needed to get through the upcoming fight to provide for her, his wife. His wife... closing his eyes he thought of Ivy. He knew he should have told her about the fight. He needed her support. He needed it like he needed the support in all his other fights. When he had... he pushed the memory away as quickly as it came. He would focus on Ivy. She was the goal. To get back to her, to make her comfortable, to keep her happy.

But she didn't need things to keep her happy. He knew that. She wanted to be with him to be part of his life. He should have told her. Would she be hurt when she found out? He'd drive himself crazy if he kept up like this. Deciding his break was over he stood up and looked around the gym. All of it was a means to an end. In the end he wanted to be back with her. It was going to be a long few weeks but it would all be worth it when he held her again.

Finding his rhythm on the speed bag he cleared his mind. He could hear the rantings of his manager over the din of the gym, somehow oddly it calmed him like it always did. One more time and things will be alright. One more time and he can go back to Ivy.

Sometimes what you feel you most have to do is the last thing you want to do. The last thing James Braddock wanted to do was to be away from his wife. Right now it was what he knew he needed to do. The rest was good for him physically. Now he needed activity to prepare him mentally for what lay ahead.

"Ivy, I'm coming back for you baby", he whispered to himself. Nothing was going to separate him from what family he had again.