Andie woke up screaming, the dream had come back in force, rubbing her hands down her face, through her soaking hair, she wondered if she would ever get a good night's sleep again. It had been almost a year, the doctors had told her it would take years for her to come to terms with it all, losing her family like that would traumatise anyone. Getting herself out of bed, she grabbed her robe and headed to the kitchen for a drink, she knew her sleep was gone for the night. Looking at the clock it was 4-00am at least it was getting a little easier and she was now getting four/five hours. Waiting for the kettle, her eyes turned to the photo on the wall, Paul her husband with Mike their 2 year old on his knee, standing next to him was Stacy their 10 year old and on Andie's knee was Becky their 6 year old. Sliding her finger over the face, she missed them all so much, why had she be left to live.
Thinking back to that night, it had been drizzling all day, they had attended a show that Stacy was in, about an hour's drive from home. They hit the motorway around 5-30 and happy discussing what they were doing for the rest of the weekend, all but Andie were dead by 5-45.
Her tears rolled down her face, hearing the kettle boil she switched it off , making a coffee she went to the living room. Looking over the view of Houston, it was a far cry from Manchester where her old life was. She had to escape after months of being lost, having no one to care for, it had ripped her apart, yet gradually she built herself back up, even looking for jobs to get her away from the UK. It had been late at night, she couldn't remember what night, as each one went into the other, switching on the TV, she came across wrestling. Not her thing, but the storylines were shit, she could write better ones, after watching it for the next few weeks, she plucked up the courage to email the head office. Not thinking anything , would come from contacting them, she was surprised to hear back a month later offering her a job in Houston.
She would write the scripts, as well as travel with the tour, without thinking she snapped the job up. Selling the house, she was in Houston four days later. Stephanie had met her off the company jet, Andie had told them all about her family and they had been very supportive, even offered counselling should she require it. She was grateful for the support they all gave her and became good friends with Shane, Paul and Stephanie. Her new story lines were out already and doing well, not only did the wrestlers love them, the fans – the most important people loved them, viewing figures were going through the roof and that was all good for the company.
Today would be her first time behind the scenes, they had allowed her to work from home whilst she settled in to American life, her house and the time differences. Throwing her coffee away, she would get an early start and head to the arena, maybe get breakfast on the way. That was a positive already about America she could get breakfast almost anywhere and at anytime of the day. Grabbing her clothes she headed for a shower, it didn't take long, checking herself in the mirror she looked ok, at 35 she didn't look to bad, long dark hair down her back, she had always kept her body trim, Paul and her had always enjoyed working out together, taking the kids for walks, cycling. She needed to stop thinking about that, otherwise she would break down. Changing into her leather pants, black steel capped boots, and black hoodie, she shut the door on her house. Climbing onto her Harley, she hit the highway, the arena was a good hour from hers and it was now getting onto 8-00am, she had been in her thoughts too damn long. After pulling in at a roadside café, having breakfast, she headed to her destination, nervous yet excited.
Parking her bike, in the almost deserted car park, she headed to the office, Steph had told her would be set up at the back for her Walking down the deserted corridors, taking in the smells and quietness she bumped into a wall, hold on the wall moved and it had a mouth on it.
"Watch where you're going, god get some fucking glasses" pushing her out of his way, he walked towards the exit.
"SORRY DIDN'T SEE YOU" fucking dickhead she mumbled to herself.
"WHAT DID YOU CALL ME" oh shit he wasn't meant to hear that, oh fuck he was coming back. Looking up at him she felt so small, 5ft nothing to this wow he was big.
"WELL" and boy could he shout.
"Nothing I just said, sorry didn't see you" no way was she saying anything else to him
"LIAR, I FUCKIN HATE LIAR'S AND DAMN UGLY ONES AT THAT" who the hell was this thing in front of him, a wanna be bloke, yuck he hated when women had to dress like bloody men.
"Sorry"
"SORRY, SORRY FOR WHAT WALKING INTO ME, BEING UGLY, STAY OUT OF MY FUCKING WAY, YOU SURE WEREN'T AT THE FRONT OF THE QUEUE WHEN GOD HANDED OUT LOOKS WERE YOU DARLIN"
"Sorry" she had to get away from this man, it hurt what he was saying, ok she wasn't beautiful and the scar down the right side of her face, had worsen her looks.
"RUN YOU LITTLE SHIT, FUCKING RUN GO" Who the hell did the hiring of this, hell they needed to hire more women like his beautiful wife, blonde and stacked, ok thick as two planks at times, but she sure knew how to keep him happy. Yeah most people had said she married him to further her career, but hey she was beautiful and that was all that mattered to him, fuck anyone else. Now staring at this thing, he needed to get home, sod the gym he needed something good to look at.
Andie ran to her office, if all the wrestlers were like him, nasty and cruel she couldn't take it. Shutting the door for privacy she cried, cried for what had been said, cried for her family and wondered if she could continue anymore. He had just ripped away all her confidence in a few hateful words, putting her face in her hands she sobbed.
Stephanie found her an hour later, tears dried on her cheeks her face puffy from crying.
"Andie honey what the hell has happened" she wasn't happy to see her so upset, the family had helped her so much to get her confidence back and it sure looked like someone had wiped that all away.
"I….cccc….oh god….he "
"Calm down sweetheart, PAUL, Paul get your ass in here now" rushing to his wife's side he was shocked to see how upset their new friend was, pulling her into his arms he rubbed her back, like he did with the girls to calm them.
"Andie, what happened honey, you were fine last night"
"She said he Paul, some little shit has upset her, wait until I get my hands, no in fact dad will sort this out. Fucking wrestlers" Paul looked at her, as if to say well I'm one
"You're not included in that Paul so don't you give me those looks" feeling Andie slowly calm down he put his finger under her chin.
"Can you tell us honey who upset you so much" shaking her head, she didn't want that man coming anywhere near her again, oh god the things he said.
"Angie, we need to know honey, I promise there will be no comeback" did she trust them, knowing hey wouldn't leave her alone if she didn't.
"I… can't Steph, Paul he was so big…. So nasty…. His face, his height" husband and wife both looked at each other
"I will fucking kill Mark when I get hold of him, where is he" Steph walked out of the office
"CALAWAY, GET YOUR FUCKING ARSE HERE NOW!" all Angie could think was shit, she had just pissed off the biggest dog in the yard The Undertaker…