Scene One

For the sake of simplicity, historians prefer to divide timelines against major historic events.  Not surprising that the ancient peoples had decided to split eras upon major religious epiphanies.  After Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity and the old pagan traditions of the Empire outlawed, the calendar that is used today in the West is cut in two, the dividing line being the birth of a Galilean boy that would grow to greatly trouble the local religious leaders of the minor yet profitable province of the Empire.  The epoch before the child's birth, give or take a few years, was called B.C (Before Christ) or B.C.E. (Before Christian Era).  The second half was acronymed A.D. (After Death) leading people to believe it began after the man's execution, but started directly after the birth.  Anything else would be a void in the historical timeline for the years of his life.

From a certain point of view, you could say my life has followed the same pattern.  The event that would eternally alter my perspective of the human condition would undoubtedly prove to be the day of mine and Riley's marriage, our wedding.  During this period, time seemed an irrelevant nuisance of age, having no effect whatsoever on my state of mind.  I had hope.  Hope that the loneliness and self-induced isolation had finally come to an end.  Before her, I had been a bitter person full of nothing but disgust for myself. I loved my family and wanted to be the son and brother I knew I was and could be still.  I decided, however, that the chance that my proximity would contaminate them as well and shatter their peace.  The guilt would have been too much for me to bear.

After the exchange of our vows to each other, it was everything I had expected it to be and more.  Gone were what felt to be the immature days of being boyfriend/girlfriend, we had pledged an everlasting commitment to each other, mind body and soul.  It was then that I learned the difference between simply speaking of love and having it embedded deep within yourself.  For the first time that I could conceivable remember, I was truly at peace.  Nothing it seemed could bring me down from the cloud upon which I was perched.

As the cliché says, the honeymoon was over.  Small and petty arguments arose at first.  Nothing that could not be repaired after negotiating and setting aside our own prides.  But it would not end there, the seeds of angst spread their roots to grow exponentially.  She said that I appeared to e distant, that there was something I was hiding from her.  A guilt that I confided in only one other person on this earth.  Why not Riley?  According to her, a husband and wife should have no secrets.  She would never understand the difference between the bonds, that of the oath we swore and the blood that connected myself and her.  Even with that aspect of our relationship, I only confessed to her because it involved her, the act I committed avenging her.

Riley would not be contented with my explanation, refused to acknowledge the fact that I did not want to poison her with a sin from my past. As righteous as my intentions were at the time, it was still murder.  As if searching for a cause of strife, jealousy soon stole over her.  In her mind, the idea of me being around another woman, any woman, was unacceptable.  The fact that Emerald was my tag team partner and held the titles together was damning evidence of an affair, no matter how absurd the possibility was.  It went on and on like this for months.  It was not unusual to not say anything to each other for days on end.

On a morning just like any other during these months, I awoke to see a note on the night table on my side of the bed.  Sitting atop it like a paperweight, a stone encrusted with golden metal.  I knew.  I did not have to read a word, I knew she was gone.  When or if she would ever return, I knew not.  I cannot say I was disappointed either.  Whether or not I wished to admit it, I was relieved.  It was over.  All the bickering and complaining, the accusations.  It was done and I doubted I would ever have to hear a word of it again.  I was angry as well.  I loved her.  There was I time when I believed that the possibility of spending the rest of my life not in isolation, but with a companion who supplemented myself.  I was a fool to believe such.  Now, however, that vacuum period of my life comes to an end.

Pen to paper, the point resting a hair above the line, my name printed underneath in the word processed text.  A small glob of black ink issued from the ball point to form a small, miniscule puddle.  Finally, after all the trouble the last year have cause me.  All the heartache.  The idea of hesitation was non-existent, let alone a factor is my psyche since I walked in this office.  My lawyer, sitting to my right at the conference room table, smelling heavily of cigars and the creases on his aged forehead multiplied, signaling an anxiousness to get this bit of business done.  I'm paying him by the hour, why the fuck is he so eager to go back to his office?

The muscles in my wrist, hand and fingers sprung with the energy of life and exercised the long memorized movements of my signature.  It's over.

Lawyer
Excellent, Mr. Michaels.  I'll make sure Mrs. Michaels gets this and you'll be a free man again.

Xavier Michaels
Refer to her as Miss Frost from now on.  Just serve the bitch and get it over with.

Lawyer
Very well.  Now as you're aware, the prenuptial agreement that was signed and notarized before your marriage will squash any kind of legal wrangling over assets.

Xavier Michaels
Probably the only smart thing I did with anything to do with her.  I'm just glad now that if anyone mentions her and calls her my wife, they couldn't be more wrong.  Ex Riley Michaels... I like the sound of that.

Lawyer
Take my advice, go out and get some drinks.  Maybe you'll get lucky.

Xavier Michaels
It's and idea, who'd a thought an old codger like you knew how to have that kind of fun.

Get lucky?  God, how old is this guy to come out with a line like that?  Besides, as much shit as there is out there from whores who'd just give it up like that, I'd have to be out of my fucking skull to even think about it.  Then again, I was married to Riley.  That is right.  WAS!!!

This new period of my life will have an acronym of its own, making it easier for wrestling histories to divide my career and life into phases.  Tomorrow will be known as Day One AD, After Divorce.

---

Scene Two

Birmingham, Alabama.  God damn the air here just reeks of tobacco.  Not just any ordinary type that you would pick up in the everyday Seven-Eleven.  This was that backwoods shit that farmers picked out from in front of their doors and would start chewing on it.  Why the fuck did the higher-ups have to book shows in backwater shit towns like this.  I don't care what kind of state capital its called.  It's not exactly saying much.  Here, glue some sticks and straw together, stand them up and throw a roof on top of it and it is the town chapel.

My hand moved softly across her lower back and wrapped around her side pulling her close to me as we waited in the elevator lifting us skyward to our floor.  As much as I hated to admit it to her, I was glad she wanted to come with me to these shows.  Sure I was always paranoid that something would happen with all the weirdoes that tended to get hired by this promotion, but I really needed the company right now.  In the wake of the finalization of my divorce, she filled a void that was drastically empty. 

Xavier Michaels
I'm glad you here with me you know that.  It's good to be around someone else that can be called normal.

Melissa Michaels
I don't exactly know if you can call us normal but I guess we're close enough.

Xavier Michaels
Still though, as much as you have to do to get ready for Rowan next month, I appreciate you taking the time follow around a has been like me.

A light over the sliding metal doors before us illuminated and dinged an annoying sound signaling we reached our floor.  The doors slid open and she moved away from my touch and into the hall with her luggage bag.  She looked behind her to me with a mocking smile.

Melissa Michaels
Come on now, don't get melodramatic on me now.  You're getting worse then mom, you know that?

I followed her, stepping out through the doorway.  I could not help smiling myself out her smart ass humor.

Xavier Michaels
That was low you know that?  I don't even wear the make-up.

Melissa Michaels
Save the denials pretty boy and lets get to our room, I need a shower and nap.

Xavier Michaels
A nap?  And I'm the one that's getting old?

I moved to my right, in the direction of the number on the plastic tag attached to the key we got from the desk when we checked in.  She followed behind me, not content on giving up this latest verbal sparing match.

Melissa Michaels
Bite me, bitch.

Xavier Michaels
That really the best you can come back with?  "Bite me"?  How Bart Simpson of you.

Melissa Michaels
You're pretty snippy on eve of your biggest match since your big comeback.  Would think you'd be more concentrated on tactics and strategy and all that stuff.

Xavier Michaels
It's a wrestling match, not a chess game.  I could have sat around all week and think about this match and drive myself crazy the whole time but that wouldn't really accomplish anything now would it?  Point is, this is a career, not life and I never have let it consume every waking hour like some people in this business do.

Melissa Michaels
At least you're not one of those jacked up gorillas that live for this stuff.  Losers.

Xavier Michaels
Nice to know you have such a high opinion of what I do.

Melissa Michaels
It's not that bad.  In fact, it's kind of cool, the way you do it anyway.

I inserted the key into the slim hole in the doorknob and gave it a turn, unlatching the lock mechanism inside.  I could not remember the last time she said anything close to that.

Xavier Michaels
Thanks, I think.  Keep talking like that and you're really going to start to creep me out.

I turned the knob and pushed open the door, holding it open for her to enter.  She walked in and set her bag next to the couch sitting directly in the center of the room.  She opened it and started rummaging through, pulling out a few items I did not bother to discern.

Xavier Michaels
It's OK, I guess.   It can be rough at the beginning but it's a job that can pay pretty well once you get established.  Which is why I want to get back up to the top like I was.  Beating Wright tomorrow is important yes, more then can be explained.  A win over the former champ would be big.  So called savior of GEW.  What a joke.

Melissa Michaels
Well OK, Mr. Comeback, I have to get ready.  Behave yourself now.

She turned around towards only other door in the room, taking a step before stopping and looking to the side and peering at the corner of her eye around her brown hair hanging down.  She smiling before turning back the other way and into the adjoining bedroom.

OK, what the hell was that all about?  No matter, it was a long flight and I really have to take a little time to myself and relax.  Get my head straight and ready for this tomorrow night.  Shit, I forgot to ask her about dinner later.  I walked quickly to the door and opened it, not really even thinking.

Xavier Michaels
Hey Mel, what do you want to do abo-- Ah fuck me, shit!!!

Her shirt was unbuttoned and hanging only from her right shoulder.  Her bra clothed breasts the only covering of her midsection.  Damn, didn't know she grew up this much.  She hurridly slipped her other arm into the other sleeve and throw the shirt on to cover herself quickly.

Melissa Michaels
The fuck is wrong with you?!  It's called knocking!

I turned around without even thinking about it.  I went back out the door holding my hand up to my forehead rubbing my temples.

Xavier Michaels
Being in a locker room full of guys so much simpler.  Great, biggest match of my career in the last year, and all I'm going to be thinking about now is the image of my sister's tits burned into my skull.