Post by Dionysus on Nov 5, 2022 5:22:20 GMT -5
 Appleby Pool. In the land of ten thousand lakes, of the ones I have visited, this is one I have dreaded to go. It brings up memories of family road trips. Me, sitting in the backseat watching my parents point out the fall colors of the Winona bluffs. We would stop next to the lake to have a picnic and stretch our legs before heading down to the city. I learned later that it was slightly off course, but my father grew up in the area and apparently enjoyed this place when he was younger. It was here that my mother and I decided to place a small memorial to him. As I walked along the shoreline, I turned to face the lake. I could see a pair of canoes with two people, one on each side, casting lines into the lake. I smiled; maybe they would get lucky and catch something other than a cold. It was a cooler fall day, smack dab in the fourties with a mild breeze and the sky slightly overcast; in other words, not a bad day to go angling. I adjusted my coat and slid my hands in the pockets, feeling out the smooth stone I had brought with me, before I moved on from the lake's edge. Near the northern shore of the lake was a large maple, one of his favorite trees according to my mother. I had made it. His memorial stood before me. Despite the cool air, I felt a warm presence embrace me as I stared at the tree, its branches swaying in the breeze, its leaves dancing in the wind as they fell toward the shore. I took a deep breath, allowing the fresh air to fill my lungs entirely. "Hey-" I coughed out; I had drawn too much in. "Hey dad. I know its been a while, but...I brought you something," I continued as I talked to myself. I kneeled in front of the tree, bowing my head in reverence. My eyes began to feel warm as I strained to fight back tears. "There isn't a day that goes by...where I don't miss you," I began, knowing that Elbrook wanted me to vocalize my feelings out loud in this space. "Mom misses you too...but she can't wait for you forever. She is moving on. I tried moving on...but I can't." I could feel a tear start to roll down my cheek. "Even though you left all those years ago...even though you disappeared without a trace...I still think you are out there somewhere. You either...just don't want us anymore, or you're lost somewhere." I felt my hands tighten into fists, my sorrow turning toward frustration and anger. I wanted to yell. It felt right to yell. But at the moment, all I could think of were those people out on the lake. So I knelt on the cold ground, shuddering from the build-up of emotion. "I need to know what happened to you. Why you never came back. Why you decided to leave us. If it was really your choice or if someone...if someone made you do it. I want to find you. I want you to see the man I have become today. I want you to see mom again and realize why she moved on. I want to bring you to this place, to see how we memorialized you, and how we have moved on without you. I want to hear you vow to make up the time we lost. I want-" I cracked out a sob, feeling the tears now flow freely. I wiped my face as best I could, feeling emotionally drained but also relieved to have that weight off my chest. "I want...to have piece of mind. Even if you don't want us in your life, I want to know you're alive and safe. I have a lead. I will find you. And I will bring you home." I withdrew the stone from my pocket, its smooth flat surface filling my palm. I nestled the stone among the roots, adjusting it so that the engraving was displayed: ~Animo~ I then stood, brushing the grass from my legs and looking up into the branches. The wind picked up slightly as more leaves left their branches, swirling in the current. I watched one leaf drift into the lake, a delicate ripple painting across the surface. I smiled softly, letting out a light chuckle. "You have a nice place here." Walking up to the tree, I placed a hand on the trunk. Maybe I was pretending I could feel my father's essence, but in that moment, I was thinking of who I would need to seek out. "I have a newfound resolve to try and find you. What I'm about to undertake will require a lot of courage...but I spared some for that stone. We'll both need it. I'll see you soon, dad." I gave the trunk a friendly pat before I turned to face the lake again, this time leaning against the tree. The sun started to peak out from the clouds, illuminating the natural beauty of the bluffs, the beams of sunlight reflecting off the lake. I had every intention to just walk back to my car and drive home...but I chose to spend more time with my father instead. Even when he is not here, I still can't help but give a Minnesota Goodbye. -------------------------------------------------- No one said this journey would be an easy one. I earned my right to be in this tournament, pitting the best of the best against one another to see who is the Wrestler of the Year. I was not expecting, however, to have to contend with the most dangerous woman in Action Wrestling. In the first round, no less. And yet, that is what fate has brought me. Jill Park has had a year that I had vowed to have at the end of last year. The current holder of the United States Title and Women’s Title, along with the All-In briefcase. One half of the dynamic duo, Affluenza. It is almost as though there is no slowing down of her momentum, that she very easily can become Wrestler of the Year on her own. …Or at least it would, if it weren’t for the fact this momentum shift really began back in July, when she won the Glory tournament and became the United States Champion. A five-month dominant streak is nothing to scoff at, certainly, and to downplay these accolades are foolhardy. However, history will tell us she spent the first half of “The Year of Jill Park” teaming with Regan Voorhees in a consistently losing effort to myself and Downfall in a fit of shared vengeance. There must be days where it kills you that you could not best a team that included the man you deemed “second fiddle” and “a b-lister.” And even after the titles left our hands, you still couldn’t do it, now could you? Sure, there is plenty more to wrestling than being on a team. One must be able to stand on their own two feet, after all. And yet, not two weeks ago, we saw exactly what Jill Park in the main event can offer. I mean really, everyone and their sister knows that Dandy is not the sharpest knife in the block. “Hmm, I can really stick it to Jill by using her long time tag partner as a guest referee. That surely can’t backfire!” An easy to manipulate con, right? And you were especially proud of it last week, rubbing it in Dandy’s face. …But you do realize you still needed Regan to win that match…right? Consider for a moment; Dandy DiVito, like him or not, represents part of the hierarchy in Action Wrestling. In every bout against him, you fell short. Until two weeks ago. When you needed help to finally put him down, even once. And that is something to brag about? For back to back weeks? I think I finally figured out what your problem is, Jill. I think you and I are a lot more alike than you would like to believe, only on opposite ends of this chaotic spectrum. I am someone people expect to fade into the background, showing moments of potential before being battered down again. You, on the other hand, fear being forgotten, so you have to constantly remind everyone who you are and where you stand with people. I mean really, “You’re the second fiddle,” “I’ve had my best year and no one acknowledges it” time and time again. It is the same lyrics being sung over and over, like a needle skipping on a broken record. There isn’t anything new or substantial; just the same tired song on the same old record. And somehow this is supposed to intimidate me. Your scoff last week is indicative of how confident you feel about moving ahead. And you may be right; I cannot say that I have the advantage in this match-up. However, that won’t stop me from bringing your winning spree to an end. Your indifference is irrelevant; I have the courage to hold my head up high in this match and give you the fight of your life. Courage is showing strength even when you are at your most vulnerable; to put yourself in the line of fire, knowing you might not make it back, and still going through with it anyway. To do what you must, no matter the stakes. I used to cloak myself in my happy-go-lucky attitude; even when I am in that ring, I try to enjoy myself. But talk to anyone I have ever competed against and ask them “what kind of competitor is Dionysus,” I guarantee they will tell you I pushed them. Sure, I may not win every match, but I make everyone work for it. And in the end, isn’t that how it should be? It makes us all look better, after all. Strength in spite of weakness, success in spite of failure, glory in spite of despair. Quia Possum Luctari. I wrestle because I can. I play the role I am given: Measuring stick. Partner. Challenger. Champion. Vanquisher. It takes more than strength and willpower to be the best. You also need courage, animo, to be the best. And that courage is what will shine through this opening round. And it will be glorious for The Crimson Gladiator. If I win, I end one of the hottest streaks of the year and move closer to the finish. If I lose, I still managed to give the most dangerous woman in Action Wrestling a run for her money. You fight with your reputation on the line. I fight with nothing to lose. We are not the same. |
