After twenty-five years I was finally realizing my childhood dream. The last four years of my life had been such an adventure, and not an easy one. My family turned their backs to me, calling my dreams foolish and a waste of time. I hadn't spoken to my parents in a year and it had been six months since I've spoken to my sister and three brothers. The fact that my family had in a sense abandon me, along with my goals for the future hurt me deeply, but I knew that quitting and returning home was not the answer. It would have been a decision that I would have regretted forever and I knew that it would lead to resentment for my family and I still loved them more than anything.

Now I'm standing here in my loft apartment at the end of March staring at my reflection in the mirror. In a few short hours I will be graduating. All through school I was a star student, letting my passion and desire come out in all my efforts and all of my sacrifices. I have always made it my top priority to strive for more and to be better daily. This was a bittersweet day knowing that I would be the only person without someone here, in the audience, cheering me on. The pride that I have in my achievements and my complete confidence in myself will get her through the night, that and knowing that I was about to begin really living my dream. The fact that I was graduating from professional wrestling school was amazing in itself, but the fact that I would be signing on with WWE, going straight into the big leagues, was truly a miracle. It was rare that someone was signed straight out of school, but it looked like I had impressed the right people.

I walked over to my desk and sat down with a pen and a piece of paper. Even though my parents had chosen not to speak to me I still wrote them once a month to let them know how things were going and that I was alright. Even though I received a response I wrote, but I wasn't sure if my letters were read, but I found hope in the fact that they were not returned.

Keeping the letter short and trying to fill it with a happy tone I wrote.

Mom and Dad,

I had so hoped that you could have been here today. I'm graduating and signing a contract with WWE in the morning. I'm still amazed that I have accomplished so much! I know that you both feel that my career choice is a dead end and that it will take me nowhere fast, but this is the only thing that I can see myself doing in life. This is where my passion lies and where I am happy with myself. I cannot see myself in a job that I am not passionate about, and this industry fills me. Hey, who knows, I may meet a great guy who sweeps me off my feet! I love you both so much that you will never know and I miss you guys something awful. I hope that your well and I hope to see you both super soon. All my love, Cass.

Carefully I folded the letter and slid it into the envelope. I sat it beside my purse to remind me to mail it on my way to the graduation ceremony. After carefully styling my hair and putting on my make-up I headed over to the closet to get dressed. The class had been told that the event was black tie so I went for a simple yet funky knee-length, strapless black dress that reminded me of the classic pin-up girls. To spice things up I slipped my feet into bright red peep toe heels and clipped a fire red rose into my hair. Looking at the clock I saw that there was still an hour before I absolutely had to leave so I took out my laptop to check email and to blog.

Just as I was about to turn it on my cell phone rang. Looking at the caller i.d., I saw my brother's name. I answered immediately, thinking that something was wrong at home. "Hello?"

"Hey there little sister, how are you?" Without waiting for me to respond he said, "I was sitting here thinking and it occurred to me that today should be your graduation. I thought I would call and congratulate you and tell you that I love you, and I'm sorry for the past six months."

The admiration and sincerity that I heard in Jacob's voice filled me with emotion. "Today is graduation, you're right! I so wish that you all were here, but I understand. Well, I sort of understand." My voice trailed off as I said the last part and I thought to myself that I really didn't understand at all.

"What do you mean you sort of understand?"

"Jacob, come on. We were all raised on wrestling from the time we were born. Mom and Dad took us to live shows all the time, hell we even imitated it in the house on a daily basis! We have been hooked on wrestling longer than we have been dressing ourselves, and our parents did it. Now all of a sudden wrestling is like a four letter word. You are more than welcome to try to make sense of it and fill me in because I cannot for the life of me figure it out!"

A long silence on the line made me wonder if my brother had hung up. Then I heard a heavy sigh and let one out myself. "Cassidy, in all honesty I totally understand where you are coming from, I really do. I have been thinking the same things myself, and I honestly have no answer for you. All I can think is that maybe Mom and Dad are worried about you getting hurt or maybe they think of it as a man's business still. I can only apologize to you for my actions these last few months though, and I am so very sorry about it. I'm kicking myself for not being there right now! I am so damn proud of you for following your heart and your dreams. I love you kid."

Fighting back a wave of tears I said, "I love you too! Graduation is actually going to be streamed live online. You would need a pass code to watch it, but I can give it to you. OH! Oh my goodness; I have huge news too!" I felt myself suddenly wanting to tell him everything and I didn't have enough time to get it all in.

"What is it?"

"In the morning I have a meeting with Linda McMahon to sign a five year contract!"

Jacob let out a whoop of joy. "Which developmental organization are you going into?"

"That's just it, I'm not! I am going straight to the big time so to speak. Can you believe it?"

Laughing with joy now he said, "I can believe it actually. You have the passion and love for this to be that good. I am so happy for you! Now give me that code so I can see my little sister graduate."

After giving him the pass code and talking for a few more minutes I hung up the phone. Walking to the bathroom I touched-up my make-up and then I grabbed my purse and mom and dad's letter. Heading out the door I took a deep breath and headed to the post office. After I mailed the letter I headed to the arena where graduation was scheduled to start in forty-five minutes. With another deep breath I parked my car and headed inside.

I woke up early the next morning to nervous to eat. I got dressed in a tailored pantsuit and pulled my long hair into a ponytail and then grabbed my car keys and purse and headed out the door for the meeting that would change my life.

After my thirty minute meeting with Mrs. McMahon and then signing the contract that she offered me, I was handed an envelope with my signing bonus check inside. In the car I ripped it open and I swear to you that I almost fainted when I saw the amount on the check. Seventy-five thousand dollars was more than I had thought I would ever have in my account. The contract alone had blown my mind with the pay it had laid out and this just topped it off. I was told that I would be making two-hundred and fifty thousand dollars year paid monthly and even though I'm no math whiz I still knew that averaged out to twenty thousand dollars a month.

Back at the apartment I sat back down at my desk and took out my paper, pen, and checkbook. First I wrote out a letter to each of my siblings and to my parents telling them that I would be sending them a check every single month for half of the amount I was sending them now. Then I wrote a five thousand dollar check to my parents and two thousand dollar checks for my three brothers and sister. I sent my best friend Jalen a check for two thousand dollars too. Sealing the envelopes I took them to the nearest Fed-Ex location and had them sent overnight mail and made sure that the envelopes had to be signed for when it they were delivered.

Finally back at the apartment, I changed clothes and lay down on the bed. I thought back over the meeting that had taken place only a few short hours ago. In five days I would be flying out of Boston to start wrestling at house shows and in dark matches. The third city I was going to was Atlanta, my hometown and I had been handed ten VIP passes for my family and friends to come to the show. It was going to be my first live match and I could not think of a better place than home to have it.

Picking up the phone, I dialed Jacob's number and wasn't surprised when he answered on the first ring. "Hey gorgeous, Emma, Chase, and David are all here. They came to watch you last night too. Hold on cause I'm putting you on speaker phone." After a second he said, "Alright, say hello!"

"Hi you guys, I miss you all!" I was surprised that they were all there and that they had watched the graduation. I was also extremely touched.

It was Emma who spoke, or rather squealed, first. "You are a freaking superstar; I mean a total hot one! I am so proud of you!"

"Thank you Em and I am so glad that you're all there. I'm sure that Jacob told you all my news about signing with the WWE. Well I start in five days, and I found out this morning that in fifteen days I we are doing a house show in Atlanta! I have VIP passes for all of you and I really hope that you can all make it!"

Cheering they all agreed that they wouldn't miss it for anything in the world and thirty minutes later I hung up the phone having not mentioned the checks that they would all be receiving the next day.

By noon the following day I had gotten a call from all of my brother s and Emma thanking me from the bottoms of their hearts. They all shared the opinion that after the way they had treated me checks were definitely not necessary. I told them that the past was just that and that they were my family so I wanted to share my blessings with them. I couldn't help but notice as the day wore on that my parents never called, and so I drew on the love from my siblings to keep the tears from coming.

At six o'clock that night I was loading the dinner dishes into the dishwasher when my phone rang. Wiping my wet hands on a kitchen towel I answered without paying attention to the caller ID. "Hello?"

"Cassidy, we wanted to let you know that we received your generous gift and you letter. Thank you so much; it is much appreciated. How are you?"

My mother's voice came over the lines clear and crisp. There was a stressed tone to it though and I felt oddly guilty about it, but I knew it wasn't intentionally my fault. Swallowing past the lump in my throat I said, "I'm good mom, better than ever. I'm excited after signing my contract and finding out that we will be in Atlanta in two weeks. I have tickets for you and Dad. I miss you guys."

After a sigh my mom said, "We will see when the time comes if we can make the show or not. I know your brothers and sister will be there. Jacob called bragging on you and he also made a few good points too. Your father and I just need some time to process your career choice is all."

I bit back the urge to point out that they had four years to do that already. "I know mom, it' just that I would really love to see you both."

"I know dear and I will talk to your father. I have to run now though, and again I can't thank you enough for the generous check. I'll be in touch."

With that my mom hung up and I realized that she never once said that she missed me or that she loved me. That hurt more than I wanted to admit and I whispered a prayer that my parents would come around and support me, and to have peace about my career choice.

Early the next morning the sound of birds chirping and bright rays of sunlight woke me from a peaceful sleep. Glancing at the clock I saw that it was near ten o'clock, and not as early as I had thought. Stretching I threw back the covers and climbed out of bed. I pulled my hair into a ponytail and slipped into a tank top and shorts, and then lacing up my Nikes I headed out for my daily five mile run. I preferred this exercise to the workouts I put myself through in the gym, and in fact i only visited the gym three times a week.

An hour later I was back to my loft and using my tank top to wipe the sweat from my forehead when I noticed a Fed-Ex man pounding furiously at my door.

"Hey mister, you break my door and you're going to have to pay for it."

"You Cassidy Jons lady," Boy Mr. Fed-Ex certainly had something up his butt this afternoon.

"I sure am and you are obviously Mr. Pissed I Have to Work Today. Do I need to sign something?"

"Yeah lady, you need to sign right here. If you didn't need to sign I wouldn't be pounding on your door now would I?"

And his rudeness just multiplies, I thought. Taking the pen and signing on the line, I grabbed the package before he could throw it down. Noticing the return address was WWE headquarters in Connecticut as I let myself into the apartment I tore the envelope open and noticed a letter and another, smaller envelope inside. Sitting down at my desk I read the letter that welcomed me to the company and detailed my flight itinerary for the next few days. It also listed my hotel information and a confirmation number for a rental car in the first stop of Shreveport Louisiana. The smaller envelope held plane tickets and the sight of them somehow made all of this so real. I squealed in delight, sounding like a child on Christmas morning opening the gift they had been yearning for. In my excitement I jumped up and ran into the bedroom to begin packing.