The loud speakers broke through the silence, “I am sorry but you just lost the game.”

I look around as people vanish around me. One by one they go, turning into pixels.

Last to go is the man staring into my eyes, his sword deep in my chest. Luckily, the safety protocol was on for the VR set. Unluckily, when I go to the arena next week to fight for real, there will be no safety protocols.

“Restart the game please.”

“Doing that now, sir.” The robotic voice of the game says back to me.

This is my 87th time fighting under these conditions, and mathematically they are the same conditions that will be in the game next week. At this point even if I win this next game, I am practically only giving myself a 1 in 88 chance of winning. But I have to keep trying, I have to keep training, I have to be able to give my family hope. I can’t fail. I can’t be weak. I must win this game.