A Shoulder, an ear.

Pearl sat outside on some steps in front of her and Mameha's steps. Her phone has still been buzzing like crazy. She sends a text to Adrienne.






I sat down on the toilet lid, I have been here awhile now feeling like I could just vomit. I took a deep shaky breath looking at Adrienne's phone number. I didn't want to tell Mameha this. She would get too worried. She didn't need this stress.



I hit the dial button and waited as I pressed the phone to my right ear.



“Hey, what’s up?” said the voice on the other side.



"I- I am sorry to do this to you now. I can't tell Mameha. She shouldn't stress right now. And I know you got your own things goin on, but," I tried my damndest to not cry. I didn't want to.



I sniffled then, "You ever feel like things you thought you were done with… bad things. Terrible things are just never going to be over with?"



There was a pause. The sound of a door closing could be heard.



“Yeah. I’ve thought that before. For good reason, too.”



There was a bit of awkward shuffling as the phone switched off from speaker mode.



“But, no, what’s up?”



"I have been trying for so long to outrun him. To hide from him. To start over. And no matter what I do or where I go, he's just always going to be there to try to ruin everything," I let out frustrated as hell.



"And he's… he's being an asshole to me. I- I don't know what to do. Go to the cops? Or maybe just maybe he won't come here. Maybe I should just call him. Maybe if I talk he won't think about coming."



Tears came from my eyes now and I can't seem to get my breathing in check. "Why won't he leave me alone?!"



Adrienne’s voice hushed to a whisper.



“Take a moment and breathe. Alright?”



Another moment passed.



“Where’s Matt at? Does he know about this?”



I sniffled and tried to calm my breathing as Adrienne said. When I answered her I knew each word had come out sounding broken. "I- I… no. He was in a real bad way last night. I tried to make him feel better. He said I did, but I don't know. He is real upset about losing his match. I haven't ever seen him like how he was last night. And he was super drunk."



I cried some more. My shoulders heaved. "I didn't like seeing him like that. Not at all. He made me hurt. It just hurt to see him like that. And honestly he sounded ready for a fight. Mentioned one thing about Ken Davison. He was ready to go to battle for me even though there was nothing even wrong. I think the booze was making him… well freaking confused." I spoke real fast. She may even have trouble understanding some of the words that I choked out, but I told her as best I could in my emotional state.



“That was a tough night.”



It was said emphatically.



“Alright. So no Matt. At least for now. The Drag--”



Adrienne paused once more at the other end.



“Look. I know this is a lot. That someone in your life is doing this to you, I’m ...not sure who he is to you. You’re calling me and we’ve shared the ring. We’ve broken bread. You’re amazing but ...I don’t even know your name.”



Things had just felt right with Adrienne. I almost felt like she already did know my name. I felt like we could have been friends since we were kids. "I- I am… My name is Pearl. I shoulda told you sooner. But you have been so busy handling things for your belt. And Ken. And now Alex. I called you today because, well I just needed a friend I could talk to. I'm sorry. Real sorry I haven't told you my name."



I took another deep shaking breath, "And it's Frank. Or rather, my crazy dad. He- he won't leave me alone."



“Your dad?” Adrienne said rhetorically. “Pearl.”



That hung in the air for a moment.



“Pearl. These aren’t easy answers to these questions. But at this point, go somewhere where he can’t find you.”



"I mean I have tried," I wiped tears from my cheeks again that feel very swollen now. "I mean I moved clear across the United States to get away from him. Maybe he seen me on TV? I mean even with my mask. I think he would recognize me. And I am not quitting this just for him. I can't. I won't," I said feeling like I might just be stuck. Stuck in a situation I don't want to be in for a while.



“So I won’t be back for another day or two. You know my address. Just hang out in my apartment. My spare key is in a code box in the lobby of my building. I’ll text you my code. Just stay there until you feel safe.”



I listened to what Adrienne said. "I- I appreciate that, but I don't think I will have to go there. Mameha is with me. He doesn't know we live at my address. I'll keep it in mind though. Thank you. For everything. I needed someone to just listen. I'll see you soon."



I hung the phone up then. After setting my phone down, I started to run hot water for a bubble bath. It wasn't about safety. Or was it? If anything, I was mostly afraid of the hurtful things he might say to me. He knew better than anyone how to make me hurt. And he didn't need to put one hand on me.