by Audrey RussowChapter OneThe BeginningLet me paint the picture for you. It’s about ten years ago, right when I was first starting out in PWSi. In fact, it was the night I had my first match, and I was in my locker room afterwards, when my door opens, and my mom and dad walk in.Mom: There she is!
Dad: That was a great match you had out there, Audrey.
Audrey Russow: Thank you. It felt good to finally get that first one out of the way.
Mom: I can’t wait to see you fighting for one of those titles. Oh, they’re gonna look so good on you!
I can’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm.Audrey Russow: I still got a long ways to go before I get there, Mom.
Dad: You’ll get there, sweetie.
Audrey Russow: I sure hope you guys are right.
Mom: Of course we are, we’re your parents.
Audrey Russow: I just…I want this so bad. Like..this life. I can’t explain it. When I’m in the ring it’s just like…I’m at home. Like, not saying you guys haven’t done anything and everything you can for me, but when I’m out there, I don’t know if its the rush of the crowd, or the brutality of the match, but there’s just something I gravitate towards. It drives me.
Mom: It’s because it is what you were meant to do.
Audrey Russow: Thank you so much for being supportive of me. I know this hasn’t been the easiest road.
Dad: We are always going to be supportive of you, Audrey. We are your parents. It’s our job to love you and support you, no matter what you decide to do with your life.
I stand up and give them a hug, before sitting back down, as they take their seats next to me. I go back to unwrapping the protective tape from around my wrists.Audrey Russow: So, where’s my darling brother?
Dad: He said something about trying to get a picture with Alexis Makarios.
I shake my head.Audrey Russow: She’s WAY out of his league. He couldn’t handle her.
Mom: Oh, you know your brother. Always the charmer.
Audrey Russow: Yeah..we’ll see how that works for him. Swear that boy is girl crazy.
Dad: He’s a teenage guy. It happens.
Audrey Russow: I guess.
I’m suddenly blindsided by a hug from my mom.Mom: I’m so proud of you, baby.
Audrey Russow: Mom, I haven’t done anything.
Mom: Sure you have! You’ve made it here! I know you’re destined for greatness.
Hmm..I like that.Audrey Russow: Hmm…destined for greatness…I like that.
Mom: One day, you’re gonna be fighting for that world title. Just you wait and see.
I chuckle.Audrey Russow: Doesn’t exactly work that way, but I do love your optimism.
Can’t argue with her…Audrey Russow…world champ…has a nice ring to it.
Chapter TwoThe Next ChapterI sit there, relaxing for a minute, in my wedding dress, as I overlook all the guests. I look over, as I see my new sister-in-law, Emma, sit down next to me.Emma Russow: Is it everything you dreamed of?
Audrey Russow: Besides one glaring problem..it’s perfect.
I guess she can see me looking at the table we left empty for my parents, as they had died earlier in the year.Emma Russow: Yeah, wish they were here?
Audrey Russow: It almost doesn’t feel right without them.
Emma Russow: Tell ya what, look over there.
She points me in the direction of Dan and Levi, as they’re cutting up, both of them smiling from ear to ear.Emma Russow: They may not be here, but this is what they wanted for you. He is who they wanted for you. I can’t promise it’s going to all be easy, but that last name you have now carries some serious weight with it. We are a fiercely loyal pack of wolves, but each of us, especially those of us that have married into the family, we have to be the strongest. The boys are great, and they will do anything they can for you, but you also need to be able to stand on your own. We’ll all be here if you need us, but you are a part of the family now, which means you’re officially a badass.
Audrey Russow: Sure hope I can hold my weight.
Emma Russow: Oh, you will…I know you will. Cam and I will be here to kick you if you start to slip, and help guide you.
Audrey Russow: Thanks, Emma.
Emma Russow: Now, why don’t we stop sitting here like a stick in the mud, and go get our husbands and have some fun? Dance the night away?
I chuckle, and nod my head.Audrey Russow: You’re right. Let’s go.
Chapter ThreeTrialsI feel the rush of the water as I splash down in it. I frantically try to gather myself, fighting to get back to the surface. After what seems like an eternity, I resurface, and grab hold of my board, as I hear laughter from Dan and Levi a few feet away. I scoff at them.Audrey Russow: Oh? You think you can do better?
I shouldn’t have said anything…beeecause of course they look at each other, don’t say anything, but paddle out, and jump up, damn near flawlessly surfing the wave.Audrey Russow: Offff course they can surf…why wouldn’t they be able to surf? Though I FAIL TO SEE HOW THIS IS TRAINING FOR MY MATCH WITH SIERRA!
That last line was more me yelling at them, as Levi just turns to me without hesitation.Levi Russow: If you can ride a wave, you can beat a Sierra.
Audrey Russow:...what?
Daniel Russow: He has a point.
Audrey Russow:...wut?
Daniel Russow: Think about it, all the focus and concentration it takes to surf. The preparation and commitment. It’s a lot like trying to win the world title. You train and train for it, and yeah..you may not get it the first time out, but you try and try, again and again, until you get the job done.
Audrey: That’s…actually not bad.
Daniel Russow: Besides, could be worse…you COULD be running down the side of a volcano having coconuts chucked at your head.
Levi Russow: They were not at your head!
Audrey Russow:...wut? Nevermind that. What am I doing wrong with this?
Levi Russow: You’re trying too hard. You don’t want it enough.
Audrey Russow: I…how?
Daniel Russow: Clear your head. Focus, think of making it upright, visiualize it, then make it happen.
SighAudrey Russow: Okay…I’ll give it another try.
I paddle out again, trying to clear my mind of everything, focusing only on the waves and my board, the way my board bounces in the water, as I look ahead of me at the incoming wave. It starts to crest, as I start paddling quickly, before jumping up onto my feet and…holy crap…I’m doing it! I’m surfing!Daniel Russow: There ya go! Yeeee!
Levi Russow: Ah yes! Well done young padawan!
I paddle back to the both of them, a great big smile on my face.Audrey Russow: Okay, okay. You were right…that was incredible!
Levi Russow: Yeah, next step is getting little Aurora out here!
My smile IMMEDIATELY goes from my face when he mentions Aurora…Hell no you are not getting my two year old daughter out in the ocean like this! I don’t really know what happens next…I guess I kinda black out, but next thing I know is I have my hand in the water, his head under my hand, as I repeatedly am dunking him in the water, with him trying to yell profanity at me with each dunk.Levi Russow: You- fuck- bit- sto- cra- sto-
Daniel Russow: Yes! THAT’S the killer instinct you need to beat Sierra! You walk into Destiny with that attitude, you’re walking out with the world title!
After a moment, I stop dunking Levi’s head, and start paddling away.Levi Russow: Are you insane!?
I chuckle to myself.Audrey Russow: I’m a Russow…and soon to be world champ.
Aaaand with that, I paddle away.
Chapter FourDestinyI watch as the sun rises over the horizon, my head on Dan’s shoulder, as we sit on the beach looking out at the ocean. I look down at my hand, my ring finger specifically.Audrey Russow: You ever think about where we were a year ago?
Daniel Russow: Yes, last night as a matter of fact.
Audrey Russow: Winning the tag titles…now a year later, and I’m fighting for another championship.
Daniel Russow: Yeah..
Audrey Russow: Sorry.
Daniel Russow: No, don’t be. You earned this.
Audrey Russow: I just…sometimes I forget that this is what you were fighting for for so long.
Daniel Russow: I’ll get my chance again, but it’s your time now. You’ve been killing it lately, this is your moment. I’m here to support you every step of the way.
I snuggle into his shoulder as he says this.Audrey Russow: Nice to know I have the support system I have. I don’t know where I’d be without you, Aurora, RJ. Especially after my parents died. I don’t know what would have happened had I not had you and RJ there to help me get through all that.
Daniel Russow: I mean, of course, but what brought that on?
Audrey Russow: Just been thinking about them a lot lately, what they’d think of all this.
Daniel Russow: If I had to guess, they’d be over the moon about a trip to Hawaii, and your mom wouldn’t be able to stop talking about how proud she was of you.
I chuckle to myself.Audrey Russow: You’re probably right.
I stare off into the distance for a moment, before I hear him break the silence.Daniel Russow: What’s on your mind?
Audrey Russow: Just thinking about this past year. Steel cage matches, an elimination chamber, and now last woman standing. It’s been a year of firsts for me. Now, if I can just make sure my body holds up on me this time.
Daniel Russow: I’m sure it will.
Audrey Russow: I dunno, it’s just weird to think how everything played out the way it did. If this match were happening a year ago, I’d be all apprehensive, probably not a shot at winning, cause I’d already have it in my head I was going to lose before the match even started.
Daniel Russow: And now?
Audrey Russow: Even if I wanted to think like that, I couldn’t afford to. But now, I have the confidence in knowing I can do it. I can dethrone Sierra. I will take that title.
Daniel Russow: Anyone can be beat, even the mighty Sierra Williams.
Audrey Russow: Malachi, Mack McKane, Jennifer Carpenter-Lopez-Makarios, Gracie Lopez, Heather Haze…they all tried, They all failed. I’m not going to fail. Everything I’ve been through has helped prepare me for this. It’s helped build me into the person I am today. I am destined for greatness, and I am destined to hold the PWS: APEX World Championship.
Daniel Russow: I’m gonna go check on Aurora. I’m sure she’s probably still asleep, but see if RJ needs anything. I’ll leave you to gether your thoughts for a bit.
He kisses my forehead as he gets up, wiping the sand off of him, before heading back to the hotel. I sit there for a few moments, reflecting on everything…You’ve been a great champion, Sierra. Completely dominant. You’ve also been champion for well over a year, and I do think it’s time for a change. I know this isn’t going to be easy…hell, it’ll be the toughest challenge of my career. But I know I have what it takes. So, get used to the sound of it…Audrey Russow…PWS: APEX World Champioon.