Post by Jana Rikar on Jul 20, 2020 23:24:32 GMT
Forest Lawn Cemetery
Norfolk, Virginia
3:45 PM Monday
The skies are spotted with high clouds this afternoon. Vehicles driving along Granby Street and along I-64 are simply background noise as a black truck pulls into a familiar parking spot. The door opens and a female figure steps down out of the truck. Dressed in a light blue top, white terry-cloth shorts, a visible dark blue bikini underneath the two and flip-flops, the small frame of a sunglasses-wearing Jana Rikar hops out of the truck. With a lollipop in her mouth, she reaches her hand along the door, grabbing a scrunchy and puts her hair up in a ponytail. She closes the door and walks along the sidewalk. She stops in front of a recognizable mausoleum, the name RICHARDS across the top.
“Hi Daddy. It’s good to see you again."
Jana pops out the lollipop and takes a seat on the bench in front of the mausoleum, showing a beaming smile. She takes off her sunglasses and hooks them on her top as she settles in.
“It’s National Lollipop Day, at least that’s what it said on my phone today. My eyes probably show a bit of wear. I was Reno on Friday and really felt the effects of that match. Chance Kennedy was an amazing opponent and I got lucky to get out with a Win. I’ve been trying to keep up with my training but it’s not easy being in Canada. Flying into Vancouver keeps me there for at least two weeks, which is fine because the cabin has never looked better. But as much I’ve been outside and keeping my cardio up, my bump work isn’t as good. I’ll be happy when I can finally get rid of this thing though.”
She pulls a picture from her back pocket and places it along the side of the plaque of the mausoleum, noting the pictures that are slid against the sides of it - a picture of her just before her debut, another picture of her holding the WWH WildCard Title, a third of her holding the JWC title in front of the Burj Khalifa, a drawing of her sitting on the beach, a picture of her dressed in her ‘San Angeles Police Department'’ gear and a picture of her holding up the OPT Championship.
“I know it’s just a picture of me wearing a mask but it seems like you can’t do anything without one these days. Right now, I left my mask in the truck because it’s hot as…”
A car horn blares as a truck drives by on I-64. She turns her head towards the Interstate then back to the mausoleum.
“I said Blazes, Daddy! I wasn’t gonna swear this time!”
More car horns blare as a traffic jam begins to fill the lanes nearby. Jana sees people getting out of their cars and running up to what looks like an accident.
“I hope they’re ok over there. I think everyone’s just on edge wherever you go nowadays. There’s so much going on and with all the stuff going on, I just enjoy being out at the cabin. A lot less media. A lot less noise too. Plus it’s only in the 70’s there. It was 102 here yesterday and as much as I like being home and near Momma and Todd, that’s just too damn hot. Tomorrow will be better though, cause I’m going to see West. He’s flying in tonight. We don’t get to see each other enough because of this Covid thing but we’re still making it work. People are sorta surprised that we’ve not gotten married or that I’m not pregnant...”
An ambulance blares its sirens on the interstate, then goes silent as it reaches the accident.
“I know, Daddy. I’m being careful. He has two little ones already, and as much as I wanna have a baby, it’s not right for me or for us right now. I’m still wrestling, but just for OP Wrestling since Limitless closed down. But this pandemic has really made a mess of things. I hope it ends soon. People just need things to get back to normal. And so do I. It’s making me wonder if that dream I had is gonna be just a dream or maybe reality.”
She pulls an envelope out from her back pocket as clouds start to roll into the area quickly, as if a thunderstorm is popping up. The winds pick up and the trees start swaying.
“All of this down time did allow me to get my pilot’s licenses so now I’m cleared to fly single engine planes for VFR for both the US and Canada. I need to be IFR qualified next, then I might start looking at getting a plane. I know, Daddy, it’s a long way from Norfolk to Vancouver, but it’ll be so much easier to just go when I wanna if I’m flying myself. Plus Ii can go see West or go anywhere I want. ”
She puts the envelope back in her pocket. Sirens are heard on I-64 as an ambulance drives past quickly. Jana stands up and walks to the mausoleum, placing her hand on the Name Plaque.
“Daddy, I gotta ask… does it ever get better? This business is just wearing me out. Some days I feel great and feel like I’m really learning how it is to be a wrestler. Other days, I just wanna curl up and stay in bed. I keep telling myself it’s just all the stuff going on and it’ll get better. But what if it doesn’t? What if this is the best we got? Limited fans. No Interaction. Take a test here. Swab this. Wear a mask. Order everything to go. It’s times like this that I’m glad the cabin is basically self-sufficient. If it ever gets too bad, I’m just gonna fall off the grid and worry about me...”
She turns and sits back against the mausoleum, crying with tears streaming down her face as the rumble of multiple thunderclaps are heard in the distance. The clouds darken with the threat of a torrential rain.
“... but I don’t wanna be alone and that’s how it feels sometimes. I know West has things he has to do and places he has to be. And I’m off in the woods or on a mountain or somewhere else… and it’s just not with him and that hurts a lot. I try to tell him that it doesn’t but I think he knows. I really like him, Daddy. I don’t wanna lose him.”
Jana wipes the tears off her face and tries to catch her breath.
“I know said last time I was here I wasn’t gonna cry, but I keep failing at that, Daddy. Every time I say I’ll grown up, I simply end up acting like a little kid when I’m here.”
Sunlight shines down through a break in the clouds, washing over Jana with warmth as she closes her eyes. A smile comes to her face as the impending storm moves off just as quickly as it popped up.
“I still don’t know how you do that but I just know that you always do. And I love you too.”
Jana stands up and taps the remote start button. The truck fires up as she looks towards the mausoleum.
“Ok, I’m gonna go now. It’s been more than 2 years now since I started wrestling and I’ve gone through a lot in that little bit of time. I need to start stepping up to the plate and not worry about being lucky or just average. 2020 may be crap…”
A loud clap of thunder cracks across the area.
“DADDY!!!”
Jana laughs as the remaining clouds wash out to sea and the heat comes back again
“Ok! Ok!. No more swearing! And 2021 will definitely be better. Momma’s fixing Country Style Steak and Yams tonight, My favorite. She said it was your favorite as well, so I guess I still am and always will be Daddy’s Little Girl. I’ll be back soon and we’ll talk some more. Love you, Daddy.”
Jana walks back towards her truck, then looks back at the mausoleum with a smile. Jumping up into the truck, Jana taps the push button start, puts the truck into gear and drives away.