In the midst of an empty Carnage Arena, Adrienne Levi sat on the edge of the ring apron. She was dressed inconspicuously in a dark hoodie, leggings, and sneakers. The Baltimore City Championship was next to her - just on camera.
“Last year was challenging to say the least. Excluding the obvious, it was alright for me. It could be achieving some little piece of actualization.”
Ade’s expression was stoic as she gestured to the title.
“Or even more,” she said with a knowing smile. “But that is my business.”
Upon her return from the Magic Kingdom, she had returned home to unsettling news.
“The landscape of this company has changed. Whether that is due to the current regime or personal aspirations, I’m sure we’ll never know. To paraphrase The Undisputed Truth - smiling faces sometimes pretend to be your friend. It would be disingenuous to say that The Set continues to be a thing. Intentionally or not, looks like we’ve folded.”
She drew in a deep breath. Exhaled with a sense of exasperation before she continued.
“Not to say that things can’t be okay again. However, plucky optimism can’t overcome the issues - real or imagined. Human nature has seemingly become an obstacle to these remarkable friendships. It’s sad that we are even talking about this.”
“Silvio Leon’s run has been exceptional. Within half a year, he captures the world’s championship against Ken Davison. Not only did he defeat him, but he also got inside Ken’s head. Made him reconsider. Stumble. Falter. And ultimately fall. That should be the story. This was to be Silvio Leon’s coronation. His ascension to greatness. Instead, the tale is the latter.”
Adrienne sighed emphatically.
“I would have liked to talk about how this is my very first main event. Against a good friend. Against someone that helped open my eyes to just who I am. I should be excited.”
Scooting off the ring apron, her shoes hit the ground.
“It will be the second time I’ve faced a world’s champion - representing this very city. There’s a small part of me that revels in the possibility that I could show up again and do what I just did against Davison last year.”
And that same mindset rebuked Adrienne for giving up that opportunity. Ken may just be right.
“I’m not sure it matters. Perhaps it is better to speak my truth right here and right now. That it’s hard to conjure excitement over this while the implications loom.”
“I’m a good person. Sometimes a better doormat. Can’t see the forest through the trees. And the sting of abandonments is so painful no matter how one downplays it. Motivation crumbles in the face of those who are so capable of deception.”
“It’s bleak. Not going to lie. I don’t feel like much of a champion anymore. It’d be easy to buckle. And retreat. And maybe you’d never see my face again. I could be one of those smiling faces, too.”
Pausing, she considered the ease of that notion.
“Yeah. Not everything’s black and white. Maybe I’m not so magnanimous as I think. Could have been a better friend. Could have answered that text. Returned that call. Reached out into the darkness. But in the same breath, I can’t be everything to everyone. I tried. I’ll have to deal with that failure. Along with that, I’ll have to persevere and get ready for one of the toughest matches in my life.”
Starting to walk past the camera, Ade stopped one more time.
