FINISH HIM!! -1993.

“Girls can’t play video games.”

Yet, I beat your ass at Mortal Kombat

three times. Back-to-back.

I hide a smirk,

pretend to mash buttons,

as if I don’t know how they work.

Like I didn’t spend all night

after school, jumping on my Sega Genesis.

Even when the house lights went out,

the soft glow of the box TV hypnotized me.

Tongue tucked deep in the corner of my mouth,

Thumbs pressing so hard,

I jammed the buttons.

When the game glitched,

I pulled out the cartridge,

blew life into my escapism.

Girls can’t play video games?

You sit there–arms crossed,

cheeks red, eyes narrowed,

bang plastered to your forehead.

We’ve been playing for rounds,

so you can “warm up,”

therefore, none of my wins counted.

“Let me play Mileena!”

You say, thinking that’s the trick.

Hold high kick for three seconds. Release.

FATALITY–

that I hit you with.

Before, you didn’t choose the girl,

because you thought girls were

weak.

You hyperfixate,

Gearing up for our fourth fight.

I flip through the ready,

Shang Tsung–close distance,

Hold block. Up. Down. Up. Low kick.

Baraka-

Back. Back. Back. Back. High punch.

“Hurry up!”

You fidget on the carpet.

Hurry?

As if I hadn’t begged my mother

for three weeks to call into the MK hotline

to get the cheat code for blood!

Like I hadn’t had to convince her

to buy me my Sega

over Barbie dolls and My Little Pony.

“I'm gonna win this time!”

You say, wiping sweaty palms

on your grass-stained jeans.

“We’ll see,” I say,

choosing

Sub-Zero.

QUESTION: What was your favorite video game growing up? Drop a comment below!