By: C.E. O’Conaing.

Alicja’s left fist bounced off the bag. She belted out another half dozen rabbit punches, swift, savage blows that almost punctured its surface. Sweat poured, the muggy gym closing in around her.

She thumped the bag with her right fist as hard as possible, which wasn’t very. The mechanical hand was lithe and its movement was smooth, but its in-built safety precautions turned her hardest punch into a sad, soft thud.

Alicja inhaled deep, steadying herself. She closed her eyes, felt sweat pool around them. Alicja hammered the bag with her left fist even harder, tasting iron on her breath.

© 2025. C.E. O’Conaing

C.E. O’Conaing is a writer and poet whose work has appeared in (list of reputable locales).

Posted November 12, 2025.