Down And Out Down Under Chapter One: In The Beginning.
Disclaimer: I own Neo, Joel and Elite Wrestling Powerhouse.
Neo stood there on the side of the road, bags packed.
Standing at a crossroads, looking back at the nineteen years that had brought her there and anticipating the next nineteen hours that could change her life.
She had given up everything for this, her job, her friends and family, her scholarship to the most prestigious art school in Sydney and most importantly probably ever seeing Joel again. Once the love of her life, now her best friend and kindred spirit, they had been through everything together in the last four years and she knew when she got back the cancer would have taken his life.
Neo and Joel had both worked their arses off to get the money for their dream to be professional wrestlers. Working everyday to get the money to go to Elite Wrestling Powerhouse in Victoria, the best wrestling organisation in Australia.
Both Neo and Joel had some wrestling experience; Joel had learnt the basics while in Japan on holidays when he was seventeen and had taught Neo everything he knew. Plus they were both students of a small local club for the last two years.
When Joel got sick Neo continued to train alone thinking he would get better, but when the doctors said it was cancer and terminal, she quit to spend time with him.
A few weeks later Neo heard that the WWE were coming to Melbourne. She knew it was the last chance Joel had to see his idols, the superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment. She even started busking in her spare time between work and visiting Joel.
As the weeks continued Joel continued to get better, he could even walk around unaided. But in mid June he relapsed which left him in a constant drowsy state.
"Hey Joeli, you wanted to see me?" Neo whispered as she peered around the doorway.
"Oh yeah Nee, come in, sit down, we need to talk," said Joel in a serious tone that got Neo worried. She sat down next to him on the bed, making sure not to sit on any of the tubes or wires.
"Neo, you know I love you and you my girl," tears started to well up in Joel's eyes, "we have been through a lot in these last few years, which makes this even harder to say." By this point Neo had also started to cry for a reason she didn't know.
"I want you to go to Melbourne and the show alone. You and I both know I can't make it there."
No, I know you are strong like..."
Joel stopped her mid-sentence. "No Neo, I'm not. I want you to go to Melbourne and get into the EWP. Start a new life away from the memories. In the second draw down there is a lock box; in it is my ticket and my account details. I am giving it all to you."
"But....'' Neo cried out.
He cut her off, "No buts you are doing this. You are the best performer and human being I have ever seen and I think you could beat the socks off anyone there. If anything, think of it as a final request from a dying man."
"Joel...'"
"Promise me," he said with sternness backed by a newfound energy.
"I promise," Neo said finally giving up.
They sat there the rest of the night crying and talking.
Neo was brought back to the present by a single tear rolling down her cheek. She took a deep breath and stuck out her thumb to the approaching vehicle.
It stopped in front of her.
Neo stood there on the side of the road, bags packed.
Standing at a crossroads, looking back at the nineteen years that had brought her there and anticipating the next nineteen hours that could change her life.
She had given up everything for this, her job, her friends and family, her scholarship to the most prestigious art school in Sydney and most importantly probably ever seeing Joel again. Once the love of her life, now her best friend and kindred spirit, they had been through everything together in the last four years and she knew when she got back the cancer would have taken his life.
Neo and Joel had both worked their arses off to get the money for their dream to be professional wrestlers. Working everyday to get the money to go to Elite Wrestling Powerhouse in Victoria, the best wrestling organisation in Australia.
Both Neo and Joel had some wrestling experience; Joel had learnt the basics while in Japan on holidays when he was seventeen and had taught Neo everything he knew. Plus they were both students of a small local club for the last two years.
When Joel got sick Neo continued to train alone thinking he would get better, but when the doctors said it was cancer and terminal, she quit to spend time with him.
A few weeks later Neo heard that the WWE were coming to Melbourne. She knew it was the last chance Joel had to see his idols, the superstars of World Wrestling Entertainment. She even started busking in her spare time between work and visiting Joel.
As the weeks continued Joel continued to get better, he could even walk around unaided. But in mid June he relapsed which left him in a constant drowsy state.
"Hey Joeli, you wanted to see me?" Neo whispered as she peered around the doorway.
"Oh yeah Nee, come in, sit down, we need to talk," said Joel in a serious tone that got Neo worried. She sat down next to him on the bed, making sure not to sit on any of the tubes or wires.
"Neo, you know I love you and you my girl," tears started to well up in Joel's eyes, "we have been through a lot in these last few years, which makes this even harder to say." By this point Neo had also started to cry for a reason she didn't know.
"I want you to go to Melbourne and the show alone. You and I both know I can't make it there."
No, I know you are strong like..."
Joel stopped her mid-sentence. "No Neo, I'm not. I want you to go to Melbourne and get into the EWP. Start a new life away from the memories. In the second draw down there is a lock box; in it is my ticket and my account details. I am giving it all to you."
"But....'' Neo cried out.
He cut her off, "No buts you are doing this. You are the best performer and human being I have ever seen and I think you could beat the socks off anyone there. If anything, think of it as a final request from a dying man."
"Joel...'"
"Promise me," he said with sternness backed by a newfound energy.
"I promise," Neo said finally giving up.
They sat there the rest of the night crying and talking.
Neo was brought back to the present by a single tear rolling down her cheek. She took a deep breath and stuck out her thumb to the approaching vehicle.
It stopped in front of her.