It's the dawn of night, the sun has finally set, and the streetlamps turn on. It’s time. Throw on a black hoodie size triple XL. It fits loose and sits over my neck and chest. I grab my hat and headphones. My friend Ethan calls me and says, “It’s time.”. I step into my matte black hellcat and sit in it while I load my music. The first song to play gets my emotions going, and it feels like the beginning of a villain arc in the movies. I tap on the pedal and listen to the engine roar. It’s time. Leaving my house with a clear mind. yet a plan of attack. I’m ready to go to war against myself. To push the limits of what my mind seems possible. The drive is faint as I can only recount on the visions I've had as a kid of this day. I’ve arrived. Ethan hops in my car and I blast the music. Using the music to cancel out all outside noise and find the mental state to prepare for the workout. I put my headphones in and my hoodie up. I walk into the gym not looking around to see who's there as I normally would. I want to get straight to the mission with a plan of attack. I drink some caffeine for energy and get straight to stretching. For 20 minutes I'm stretching, feeling the blood flow through the muscle. Finally, it’s time. The duel of fates. I lay on the bench and get a good understanding of where I am the moment, I’m in. Nothing should be a surprise and I want to be in control of everything happening. I get myself situated on the bench and look up to meet many eyes in the gym. They know it’s time. I load the first plate onto the bar. Setting up under the bar; making sure every technique is correct. I lift it up and start setting the tempo on the bench tonight. I load on the second plate. At this point I know the weight is still light, but it's become a mental battle of attempting to shut off my nervous system mentally. I don't need any doubts. I get under the bar and two plates feel as light as the bar. I keep the same tempo and effort. I load on the third plate. It’s at this point everything feels right. I’ve found a mental state of no distractions and pure focus on myself. With the same tempo and effort, the bar flies off my chest. I load on the fourth plate. I’ve finished warming up and focusing on my technique for one rep. I feel a second boost of energy as the caffeine finally kicks in. A light stabbing sensation on my face and shoulders I lift and bar and press it. To my surprise with ease, and my heart is pounding because I know it’s time. I load on the fifth plate with nervousness and excitement. I look up at the gym once again and see more eyes and phones. My confidence rises and all nervousness leaves my body. My villain arc reached the peak as they have no idea this isn't my heaviest set. I get myself ready for the bench and press it with less effort than I have before. Sitting up I look at the community all impressed with the lift. As I put on the sixth and final plate I see shocked faces across the gym. Finally it’s time. I set up my camera getting ready for the final push of the day. No doubt in my mind as I set up on the bench. I lift up the bar and slowly lower the bar to my chest. As soon as it touches my chest I press with everything that I have. It becomes more than just me pressing, It’s becoming my goals, dreams, and aspirations pressing against the bar. Most importantly though it’s me as a kid coming into high school hoping and wishing to become one of the strongest men in the gym one day pressing. I finish the rep and with pure excitement I rack the weight and celebrate with Ethan. My body is full of adrenaline. I sit down with the camera and re-watch the video over and over again fully embracing this moment. After that I clean up my area and have multiple conversations with the people there. This is the community I've come to enjoy and found a second home with. As I'm ready to go home; before leaving I look back at the gym remembering how this place helped sculpt and develop me into what I am today. I won the war and made my younger self proud and I’m happy.