Post by thewhiterose on May 10, 2021 20:46:04 GMT -5
It was hard to see out the living room window, the frost had caked heavily to it and the snow was spitting harder and faster now. Or, at least it was easier to see the snow falling now that the sun had started to rise. I sat quietly at the living room window, straining my eyes in my best attempt to penetrate the wall of falling flakes to see the neighbors house. Their window was also well covered with ice, but I could see the outside clearly and it was elegantly decorated for the holiday. Most notably, strings of red, green and pale white bulbs wrap around the border of their home, some flashing but most just proudly radiating their respective color.
I'll never forget all those little lights.
Sparkling like stars, they shone so brightly through the morning storm: simply put they were beautiful. They made me feel at peace, made me feel safe. Yet, still, they didn't help much in my attempt to see into the neighbors house. But through a Christmas miracle there was one tiny patch clear in our window, and would you believe it, one tiny patch in theirs. I could see it - The Tanner family was getting ready for Christmas morning.
I sat, knees pressed to the wall and my forehead pressed to the window, fighting through the frigid cold coming through the poorly insulated siding so that I could live vicariously through them. I could see Mr. Benjamin Tanner in a cozy looking powder blue pajama set, laying the last few immaculately wrapped gifts under their scarcely but lovingly decorated pine. From behind him Mr. Lucas Tanner approached, his tired eyes forgiven by the look of anticipation and excitement on his face as he hugged his husband from behind and gave him a kiss on the neck.
My chubby kid cheeks reddened to the cold, but I couldn't care less and was quickly distracted as their two children, Caldwell and Samantha came running down the stairs from their rooms. The lights outside nor inside could match the glow the two kids emitted when they saw the treasure trove that awaited them. The Tanners were by no means well off, but both had been picking up extra shifts and saving for that one moment, the pay off, the joy of their children.
Caldwell, who was my age, ran and hugged his parents. While Samantha, who was a year younger, blew past them all to get to the finely wrapped box's adorned with shiny paper and twinkling bows. The Tanner parents had a chuckle at this. I had to use the sleeve of my sweater to clear off some condensation on the cold window from my warm breath, but afterwards I could see Samantha clutching the handle of a brand new blue bicycle with a red bow adorning it, and moments later after hearing his sisters excitement Caldwell was running toward a matching green bicycle with the same red ribbon. Their big gift of the year, the only thing either of them wanted. A tear ran down Mr. Benjamin's cheek that Mr. Lucas quickly wiped away for him with a smile as the two kids literally were jumping for joy. I remember, even from being a house away and with the wind bellowing, I still remember hearing their cries of joy as they hugged their parents once more, and then began opening the rest of their gifts
I remember it for two reasons. In life, it's hard to match the joy of a child. As an adult you have things that you enjoy, things you find fun or amusing... but as a kid you're just so... untainted. Life hasn't brutalized you, reality hasn't set in and you still... have hope. The good moments are literally the best moments of your life at that point, and in that moment all four of them were genuinely happy. Not because they had money or riches, but because they had each other.
I also remember the moment so vividly because in my intense focus I hadn't noticed my dad had entered the room behind me.
"They can celebrate the lords birthday all they want, kid." He said slurring his words at 6:05 on Christmas morning, his flannel robe barely covering his stained white shirt and grey boxers. "Ain't gonna matter none in the end. They're going to hell for what they're doin'. Celebrate all they want, it don't forgive a sin like that." With that he turned, leaving the dirty, dim, undecorated living room and returning to his bedroom, the door slamming behind him. At least now I had one thing in common with The Tanners, or Mr. Benjamin to be more specific. But there was nobody to wipe the tear trailing down my cheek.
"Merry Christmas, dad."
Water erupts from a silver fountain like lava from a volcano, a fountain adorned with deep silver engravings of calligraphy and beautiful, graceful birds. Melodic chirping can be heard filling the silence not taken up by the roaring of the fountain. I pause, waiting a moment for obvious dramatic effect before walking out from behind the fountain, a baby dove lovingly nestled in my white-glove covered hands. With a smile I face the camera as I not only hear the cool breeze rustle the trees behind me, but feel it hit my exposed chest. My button up zebra-print shirt tastefully unbuttoned halfway, exposing my heart to the world.
I hold the dove out, the little fella fluttering it's wings a little, smiling softly as I stroke him with my thumb. "Good morning brothers and sisters of the light. I've been looking forward to having the opportunity to speak with you all again. I understand unfortunately I'm probably not on the greatest of terms with all of you watching this, after turning the lights out at the start of the last Fallout. However, you need to look at it from my perspective. You may not judge the death of a zebra until you put yourself in the shoes of the hungry lion, and so too I ask you just hear me out, listen to what I have to say, and if you still hold ill feelings toward me than that is your right and I'll respect that.
Those toxic traits are more than evident in my opponents for the coming pay-per-view, Disputed Territory. I have the opportunity to spread my message on a more grandiose stage, and not only that but it will solidify my spot against the winner of Kagome Akaibara and one of the golden geese of Fallout it seems, Mrs. Kasey Winterborn in their Ascension Championship match. My opponents are all condemned with the darkness that plagues Fallout, so it'll come as an additional reward to help them rid that darkness, while also gaining more eyes and ears to the cause.
It won't be an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, for while I don't respect the way they choose to perpetuate a narrative of hate and violence, I do respect my opponents abilities in the ring. A few of them like Heathen Jones and Mason Destruction I haven't gotten to see much of to date, but I'm more than impressed with Kevin Hunter, Daniel Horror, Logan Burgess and Eli Atlas.
That's not to discourage or overlook either Heathen or Mason. Heathen has an aura to him that leads me to believe that while he has yet to make his mark on Fallout, he certainly could do so. And after listening to Mason Destruction talk last week? I think once he continues to turn his life around, maybe stop poisoning his body with nicotine and filling his face with holes and metal, he's going to enjoy much success.
However as I stated before the other four opponents are more than capable. While yes, their win loss records aren't the most beautiful on paper, in fact, if we're looking at it technically with my one win, I'm the only one entering the match with a winning record at one and zero. But they've all proven themselves, and Daniel Horror and Eli Atlas have both actually already held the Ascension title in the past. Now neither were able to hold on to it for more than one defense, but as they say remaining champion is harder than becoming one.
I digress. If you look at the opponents I've been placed with, there a very clear, common thread that weaves around them all. Guys like Mason and Eli lived lives they didn't want to and made excuses as to why they weren't making it further in life. Eli working dead end jobs and Mason relegating himself to the barbaric and embarrassing world of backyard wrestling; both because they didn't believe enough in themselves. Then the likes of Heathen, Daniel, Logan and Kevin all rely on immediate fear. They attempt to psych out their opponents with their constant talk of violence and blood shed. Even Eli and Mason can't escape that, as Eli belittled himself by joining the Fallout roster and trying to fit in as opposed to trying to change it to fit his beliefs; and Mason lived his life taking suplexs off a neighbors broken ladder onto a futon mattress.
Now I'm not one to undermine anybody nor speak ill of future brothers or sisters, but these people need help, and sometimes you have to be blunt to honestly help. So, maybe, just maybe, your win loss records would be more positive if you all represented yourselves better and didn't make every match about causing suffering or inflicting long-lasting bodily harm on another human being.
But, again, I understand that's part of the sickness, and nobody is helpless in the eyes of The Light. You've been living lives with your wings clipped my friends, but now, 'The White Rose' is here." I kiss the bird in my hands on its beautiful little head before tossing it in the air, smiling a bright smile as it's wings extend and it flies off into the trees.
"And I want to help you spread your wings and take flight. Take my hand, brothers and sisters, and follow me into The Light."
I take a look in the direction the bird flew. It is an honest hope that I can help these lost souls take flight, by I'm well aware they will stay grounded for quite some time. Unfortunately for them this week shall result in another loss in their records, but I hope my words have set in and given them hope. However this is part of a bigger plan and I can't allow any of them to get in my way, to foil my opportunity of being granted a title shot so early in my career, taking that opportunity and propelling it. For once I have gold, once I have that innate respect that comes with being a champion in a wrestling company, then and only then will I have the attention I need.
Then... we truly begin to open eyes.
