Post by Alex Jones on Aug 2, 2017 20:53:09 GMT -5
You questioned my trust but
You held the key to my heart
And had every intention of ripping it apart
You skipped town when I wasn't around
You said it was easier than standing your own ground
Blackpool, England
7 months ago.
The smell was the same, the smell of sweat, blood and musk. The smell of pain and salvation. Alex breathed deep, the sweat pouring from his veins as his hands shake, the tape around his knuckles and wrists stained with blood, still fresh blood. His long hair partly tied back had a few strands down his face, a large cut visible under his right eye.
The crowd, made up of other wrestlers jeered and clapped, they yelled everything from words of encouragement to obscenities. Their english accents making both feelings sound the same. A tap on his shoulder sent Alex to his feet, he bit down on his mouth guard and stepped forward, his ankles and feet taped like his hands wearing a pair of black and white workout shorts.
The young guys standing across smirked arrogantly, the first two rounds went to this kid. In his early twenties, arrogant, cocky, well put together. Alex smiled as the kid bounced on the balls of his feet. They came together in the center of the makeshift ring. The kid lunged forward hitting Alex in the ribs with a low left and then a right cross sending him back…
Fuck he’s fast….
The thought ran through Alex’s mind quickly and back out again as he refocused. The kid threw a fast combo, Alex covered up and felt the shots to his sides then the fists hitting his forearms making a sick crack sound. The feeling was like a 2x4 slamming into him causing Alex to lean back against the lengths of cable pulled around the posts. He grabbed the kid by the head pulling him in, but he reared back and slammed in a hard right sending Alex to his knees, his ears rung, the lights went fuzzy and Alex shook his head trying to clear it out.
Strong too...shit….
He looked over at his corner, Danny Mathias, his trainer from 13 years ago stood cross armed with a grin, Alex laughed and got to his feet as he heard the “official” count to 7. The kid came back with a laugh giving Alex a nod of arrogance, he came in for the kill, he faked with the left and tried to come over with the right, Alex stepped back, planted his weight on his back foot, bit down hard on the mouth guard and slammed his right fist across the kid’s jaw, a loud crack echoed through the basement.
The kid fell to the floor and didn’t move, everyone went silent as Alex sighed and backed off, they all shuffled out as Danny Walked up to him, his short black hair sprinkled with grey flakes now and a few extra pounds on his already large frame. As Alex dangled his hands over the side Danny started undoing the tape, a few guys helped the kid up, he stumbled on his feet and Alex sighed. “Don’t make em like they used to….”
Danny laughed and sighed shaking his head pulling the tape off Alex’s knuckles. “Be nice, he was a tough kid mate, an he was given you a right beatin…” Alex scoffed and turned back to Danny who sat back on his chair breathing deep. Alex sat down next to him and put his hand on his shoulder ”It’s good seeing you Danny….”
He turned to Alex with a smile and a nod. “Aye you too kid….I haven’t seen you in….11 years?” Alex raised his eyebrows searching through his bag. “Hows little miss?” The smile faded from Alex’s face as he became more serious. “She’s good...married...has a kid….good….” Danny looked confused and tilted his head as Alex avoided eye contact. “Married to you?”
Alex looked away and slid his own wedding ring back on looking at it before shaking his head. Danny sat back against the chair and folded his arms looking at him up and down. “I always thought you two would make it, ya belonged together you did, seeing how ya carried on in the gym and how she looked at ya I-” “Stop...Danny..just...I didn’t come here to talk about that….”
Alex breathed deep as Danny moved in closer with his hands on his knees. “Then why did ya come lad?” Alex ground his teeth together looking down at his busted knuckles. The scraped still there despite the tape, his cheek still red and warm as blood trickled from it. Alex stared forward for a moment and a slow smile came across his face. “To be Alex Jones again…..”
Blackpool England
6 months ago.
The cracks in his knuckles were loud, echoing through the gym. He looked up at the clock. 3 am. It was empty, lonely. No one knew he was here. No one knew where to find him. All except Danny. Alex stretched his neck and let out a sigh pushing himself up to his feet. He moved across the mats on the main floor of the gym. His whole body still in pain from the day before. The cold air moved in through the area as Alex pulled the chains near the large roller door.
It was pitch black outside. The sounds of the nearby city moving into the air, the smells from nearby shops readying their breakfast menus for hungry dock workers filled his nose. Alex smirked and zipped up his black and red hoodie, the hood flipped up over his head. He took a deep breath and leaned down his hands wrapping around the silver bar. Large plates on either side. His teeth ground together as he pulled the weight up past his knees, his arms burned as he lifted it to his chest, a step forward and a dip before switching legs. Alex growled as the pain shot through his back, his legs, his arms. His whole body. He stopped and dropped the weight letting out a grunt of anger and frustration. Alex looked over at the plates and loaded up the bar much higher, his eyes burning as he readied himself again.
He closed his eyes trying to calm himself. Her voice echoed in his head. A warning not to do it, a warning to stop. Even her voice calling him a moron as he jerked the bar again. He could feel the veins in his arms bulged as the blood pumped and coursed through his veins. He pulled it to his chest and opened his eyes stepping down and then up, changing feet.
He dropped the weight again, the thud slamming through the gym. He was so focused he didn’t even hear the footsteps. Danny’s rough voice catching him off guard. His accent making it sound even more grizzled. “Yah going to end up pulling something doin that mate.” Alex scoffed and let out another grunt with a nod as if to say hello. He added another two plates. Danny walked up and put his hand down on Alex's’ shoulder. “What are you doing Alex?”
“Working out Danny…” He pulled his shoulder away locking the plates in place, he took his hoodie off throwing it to the side as the sweat seemed to roll down his forearms. He stood in front of the bar and as he touched it Danny slammed his foot across the front of it. “What are you running from?” Alex paused for a moment he sighed deeply and shook his head, his eyes locked on the bar. “Move your foot Danny…” Alex’s voice was deep, almost like a growl. “Nah boy, you need to tell me what-” “MOVE YOUR FUCKING FOOT DANNY”
Alex stood straight up getting face to face with the old man. Danny stood about 6 foot tall, same height as Alex. Danny was still in great shape for a man in his sixties, Alex growled again as his eyes stayed locked on his. “You’ve got to let her go son….” The words caught Alex off guard. His eyes widened, Danny shook his head and sighed. “I knew what you were running from the second you came back.” Alex backed up and folded his arms over his chest, his eyes darting back and forth unable to make eye contact.
“I did some checking Alex, you’ve got a wife, a beautiful wife. She’s been calling and looking for you….” The words seemed to drown out but where still there, the anger in the pit of his stomach rose hand in hand with a sadness and a frustration. A hurt he couldn’t explain or let go. “You need to let that love go and-” “And what?” Alex looked back over at him stepping forward. “I moved on. I love Sonja, I do. She’s the only other woman I could ever love and be with but…”
Alex trails off, his hands clench into fists as Danny shakes his head in disappointment. “When there’s one person in this world that actually understands you. That in your heart you know you’re just...meant to be with...how do you let it go man?” Alex's’ voice shook, he held back all the emotion behind a wall. His anger, the pain all of it. Danny reached out putting his hand on his shoulder. “You bury it….and hope it doesn’t kill you…”
