time: 3:20, afternoon.

day: friday, the eighteenth.

place: bailey's bay, bermuda. engel residence.

(My life has been taken from me. My reason for living has been taken from me. Everything I've ever wanted in life has been taken from me. The money, the wrestling, the fancy house - I didn't give a shit about any of that if I couldn't share it with Mia. And, I can't.)

(What could I do with myself? Live my life alone? She was my soulmate. She was my partner. She was my other half. What fucking good am I without my other half? It's not fair at all and I shouldn't be punished. People shouldn't be taken away from other people like this, not when I need her the most. Now I know how Joseph felt when his wife was taken from him and murdered, what a cruel and twisted world we live in. Of course, nothing happens to the people who commit these heinous crimes, only the people who are victims are eternally punished. Those doctors didn't do anything for my Mia and for that they're just as guilty as a Lex Demise.)

(Wrestling. Who cares. It's miniscule without Mia. Everything is. Everything.)

(So I stand here at my wife's funeral, dressed in black, surrounded by friends, relatives, family, and businesspersons. No one here cared about Mia more than I did, I don't know why they bothered to show up. It should be just me at this funeral, I was hers and she was mine - companionship. I see Dustin was nice enough to make it, along with his family. I'll give him a wave. Hi Dustin, nice of you to come see my wife when she's dead. Wait. That's crazy talk, Dustin has always been there for me and I should be appreciating that, not insulting it. The whole family is here, along with mine. Joseph, Enika, my father, Alexia, the Kelsers, and Mia's side of the family. It seems we only get together when we have special occassions like this, that kind of pisses me off.)

the Priest: En nomini patri, et fili, espiritu sancti.

(The priest is finished with his sermon and walks over toward me. He whispers something in my ear and I begin to walk toward the podium, which rests near my wife's casket. I clear my throat and look around, noticing everyone has their eyes on me. Most of the pairs of eyes are full of tears...yet mine aren't. My tear sacs are too dry to let any more out, I've done all the crying I can do.)

virus: Well, as we all know, Mia held out as long as she could. She fought it for 8 months and never had a shadow of a doubt that she was going to make it. She was so strong and confident that she was fine and this was just a speed bump in her life.

I wish I could've been strong with her, but I had doubts. Maybe I cursed her healing, maybe I didn't. I had so many lonely nights of crying myself to sleep that sometimes I just wanted to go to the hospital and shake her. I'd shake her until the cancer was gone. But, that was never going to happen. I cannot mourn anymore, I've done enough. All I can do is honor we what had as a couple and remember the good memories I have of her, for I have many. She was my goddess, she was my everything. I miss her so much and I know for a fact she's in a much better place, where there is no cancer. I'll be joining her soon.

But not yet.

Today, we honor her death with the proper burials and services. But for eternity? We honor her life and what she shared with everyone. We honor her as a human being and a great woman. Mr. and Mrs. Giovingo, I truly am sorry for your terrible loss. To everyone, I am truly sorry for your loss - the world is a lesser place without her.

(I walked over to my chair and sat back down. The casket started to get lowered into the Earth. Soon enough, she was buried. Gone. Forever. Until I join her in the midst of the Earth and Heaven.)

(The funeral service ends. People clear out. I didn't plan a reception afterwards, people have their lives to attend to. They shouldn't stop their lives just for me and Mia. I sit there at her grave, knelt down with my head down. I feel a hand rest on my left shoulder and I hear a familiar, friendly voice.)

Thunderwolf: I know this is tough for you and I can't exactly relate, but just know that the whole family will do anything that we can for you. I guess the only advice I can give, and best way I see fit to deal with the whole situation is, well, to go back to your daily life the best that you can. Don't let this interrupt what you do and who you are.

She's in a better place man, we all know the kind of woman that she was. But you, you still have a life to live, Matthew. So live it to it's fullest.

(As much as I hated it, he was right. He was always right. I feel him leave my presence, I only assume they're heading back to their house. He also has needs he has to attend to and I don't expect him to drop everything for me. I get up from the grave and blow her one last kiss, like I always used to do, and I walk toward the house. I didn't want her to be buried in any graveyard, she deserves much better than that. She loved this house and this town, so I don't ever plan on selling it to anyone. I might move, but I'll never give this up to anyone. It's all paid off anyway. I open up the backdoor and walk into my kitchen, still feeling the emptiness as Mia isn't there to greet me or give a kiss. I let out a sigh and sit down at the kitchen table, looking out to the backyard.)

(I turn on the kitchen TV only to see recaps of Thunderwolf's and Protean's promos, back and forth blabbering. I turn the television off immediately, not even wasting my time with wondering what went down between them. I look over to my camera, which is setup from the last promo I did a couple decades ago. I take out the tape, put in a fresh one, and go to hit record - but I stop. I look outside and am reminded of what went down today. Would it be right? No, she would hate me for this. Plus, there's no way I can be competent in the state I am in. Maybe next time.)