The Battle for Victory

We gazed silently across the battlefield, our small band of six. We began as eight but lost two to forces beyond our control. They fought bravely in past battles and we would honor their memory tonight. It was for them and for our clan--Las Chicas--that we would fight. For their memories that we must win. It would be our last struggle, of this we were certain. Our last opportunity for victory. Our last chance for glory!

We stepped into formation, following the lead of our fearless leader, Heidi. What could six women--intimate with defeat and frustration--hope to accomplish against a clan of proven warrior women? Women who called themselves "The Believers." How could we possibly defeat them? Though these questions taunted us, they did not matter. On faith we followed Heidi's lead. We trusted her as we always had and took our places without question. We looked at each other with encouragement... Amber, Debbie, Heidi, Jamie, Marla and Terilynn. We thought of Jodi and Kim. One breath. And then, we waited for our enemy to move.

The attack came quickly and almost without warning! Panic seized our very hearts, but we did not falter under the oppressing assault reigning down from the skies. We took courage from each other. As one woman defended, another countered and moved to protect openings or weaknesses. We continued to press forward in battle, matching strike with strike... attack with attack. No more just defending, we were now the aggressors! Our enemies fell back under our onslaught. Jamie's strikes and intimidation on the front lines, Amber's impossible saves, Terilynn's amazing footwork and counter strikes , Marla's incredible bombs of mass destruction, and Heidi keeping us all together, focused, pushing forward. Our rival clan was helpless against our skill and our bond. We worked as one, giving us the ability of thousands. The scene of carnage was exhilarating as they fell beneath our hands.

It was not long before they retreated to nurse their wounds and rethink their own strategy. It would have been easy to believe ourselves victorious, but we knew differently. Our own experience with defeat taught us to battle as if the initial victory was never won. Pride could destroy us faster than any opponent ever could. And so we were cautious as the next wave of melee began. They struck fiercely, showing no mercy. Pushing, striking, never stopping. Fear again tugged at our hearts. They were relentless and driven. Would this be our end? No! We would not fail! We could not fail! Not when we had come this far.

And so our band of six refused to give in or to give up. Our unity was our strength. We encouraged each other in word and action. We bandaged each others' wounds even as we continued to push back against our foe. And the proven warriors, the mighty women, saw their own defeat in our eyes. In short, they were afraid. And in fearing they lost the battle. We were victorious!

As the last woman fell, triumph was ours. It was beautiful. It was glorious. And for one moment I stood back to watch the hugs and the shouts of joy. I was humbled tonight. Humbled to be a part of such a group of women. Humbled to be accepted by them to be allowed to fight by their sides. I saw radiant beauty as I turned from woman to woman. It wasn't the glow of winning a battle, it was the blaze of womanhood. A band of women who fought together, felt sorrow together, shared laughter together... and, now, won together. And they were magnificent!

( To you, Las Chicas... le amo muchísimo! )