DO YOU BELIEVE IN LIFE AFTER LOVE? (AFTER LOVE, AFTER LOVE, AFTER LOVE)

Nick Stuart: DARIN ZION JARED SYKES LANDED IN THE NAILS!

Richard Parker: DEAR GOD IN HEAVEN! THAT MURDER VALKYRIE AMAZING LIFE PARTNER JUST STRAIGHT MURDERED HIM!

KBB reacts like he’s been shocked with a taser. He sits up, some of the nails are in his back. Punctures all over the place. WELL FUCKING DESERVED AFTER EVERYTHING YOU’VE PUT THE HALL’S THROUGH YOU SOB.

Justine Jonathan-Christopher pulls him in.

Nick Stuart: STAND BY ME! STAND BY ME IN THE CENTER OF THE RING!

ONE!

Justine tries to get back into the ring to keep 2Become1 KoP’s title hopes alive.

TWO!

That’s all he wrote, peeps!

THREE!!!

‘Cause SHE can’t make it.

“RAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!”

Jubilation.

Relief.

Vengeance.

Hallmark Journey.

Check.

And mate!

They’re on their way towards the magical outcome and forever conclusion!

That’s everything Justine Calvin Jonathan-Christopher Hall’s going through as she sits up after making the pin.

Vince Howard: Ladies and gentlemen, the winners of this match… AND STILL! NEWWWWWW PRIME TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS! JARED SYKES! AND “HIGH CALIBER” JUSTINE CALVIN!!!!!…

—

BELIEVE IT OR NOT THE CHER REFERENCE ISN’T BECAUSE LINDSAY TROY KINDA LOOKS LIKE CHER ALTHO SHE 100% LOOKS LIKE CHER. THERE IS A CLEAR REASON THESE SONG LYRICS WERE USED.
A true love story
An honest friendship
Getchya popcorn ready with loads of extra butter mmmmmm because this is the journey you’ve been waiting for!
— — — — —
???
Folsom, LA
Unknown date
09:10

“My name is Jonathan-Christopher Hall and I am addicted to meth.”

Except he isn’t, he’s lying. But they don’t know.

“Welcome, Jonathan-Christopher,” the group replies in a rather robotic, yet friendly unison.

After a brief pause, Hall sheds a tear. However, looking around the circle, he sees expressions on faces that he’s seemingly never witnessed before. Genuine, honest compassion. Concern. Empathy. A desire to listen, dare we say… further. At first, it makes Jonathan-Christopher feel extremely uneasy. He’s never processed facial expressions like this before, let alone fifteen of them. He can’t compute. Is this real? Are they true? Is he the center of attention?

“Go on, it’s okay,” the frizzy haired blonde girl beside him says quietly, as she leans forward and then withdraws, ensuring she doesn’t make The Timid Tiger feel more uncomfortable. “You can be yourself in here.”

Himself? It’s a terrifying thought when he doesn’t know who he is anymore.

Has he ever?

He’s only known one side of him. Beside another. His one love. His every special emotion, tied to her.

She isn’t here though, is she?

She may never be here again.

“I- I- I-” the former PRIME wrestler is struggling mightily as he tries to find the words. “I- I need to sit down.”

He crumbles in front of them. It’s no surprise. Sulking in his seat, he glances around. Their eyes haven’t immediately left him. It’s like they are feeling the sadness he’s feeling. It’s… weird. So weird. Eventually, the group moves on when the leader encourages the blonde haired woman beside JCH to introduce herself next. She’s a pro, been here before, no doubt. A warm and inviting smile, it sets the room at ease. She says her name. Dora. The automatic/friendly response of “welcome, Dora” follows. Except Jonathan-Christopher. He can’t say a word. Dora moves onto her story while Hall remains in the past, stuck with a prolonged sadness deep inside. He has felt like an endless failure. It’s been years since he’s conveyed a different thought… when in reality, he has only failed recently. Some would say it wasn’t failure. Placed into situations with impossible odds, many could report Jonathan-Christopher had done surprisingly well. To be clear, we’re talking about wrestling. Bounced from the Almasy Tournament by Brandon Youngblood is NOTHING to sneeze at. On the rebound, JCH fought his way into the 5-Star Title war at PRIME’s returning pay-per-view. Hayes Hanlon, currently the PRIME World Champion, won that particular battle. The Vow of Virtue didn’t win the match but he wasn’t pinned, either. Moving on… it’s not Hall’s fault he and his best friend were voted off Survivor so quickly. Threats get voted off quickly. Finally, a loss to the Egg Bandits might be hard to swallow but Bobby Dean and Doozer are as legitimate as they come when motivated.

This wasn’t the worst of it. Vickie, who had been devastated by Jonathan-Christopher and Darin’s most recent setbacks, couldn’t look past how weak her Amazing Life Partner was. It had become too much for her. She was definitely triggered at the sight of him.

So she stepped away.

Temporarily, let’s be clear. Vickie told Jonathan-Christopher she required a break from PRIME and, subsequently, a break from their marriage. Yes. It’s true. Nobody knew about it then and nobody other than Darin Zion knows about it now. Not even Tristan-Crispin Gladhappy, Jonathan-Christopher Hall’s dearest cousin.

Furthermore, this was the straw that broke the Hallmark Journey. Institutionalized for mental health concerns, Jonathan-Christopher found himself enrolled in a two-month inpatient program down in New Orleans.

He couldn’t function away from his sweetie, she was his everything.

Everything.

EVERY.

THING.

How would he go about defining himself now?

He wouldn’t.

He couldn’t.

He can’t.

The program moves on. Dora has long since finished speaking and the person who holds the floor is halfway across from Jonathan-Christopher. The former wrestler may be in shambles but he IS doing better. Slightly. Progress takes time and in this case, it certainly will take the Louisiana native months to years. He is no longer in the mental health unit, though. He no longer needs to be in a secured room, locked away from potential harm. He’s made real steps towards recovery. Zion has visited. Vickie, too, has stopped by when she could.

It provides Jonathan-Christopher hope.

Which is what he needs in boatloads.

“Psst. Psst, dear,” Dora whispers as she leans towards JCH and gives him a minor nudge. “Once the circle finishes, it’s never too late to add something.”

Bless his heart, he attempts a faint smile but faint it most certainly is. He runs a nervous hand through his luscious brown hair and breathes through his diaphragm, a physiological intervention to counter panic attacks, a coping mechanism he picked up as an inmate. Puff your stomach out, expand your belly as you breathe in and out. Apparently it’s the appropriate way to breathe and yet human beings don’t do it enough.

It activates your spinal cord, Jonathan-Christopher remembers hearing. It sends signals to your brain to slow your thoughts down.

It’s damage control. Helpful at the most painstaking times.

Jonathan-Christopher continues to breathe through his diaphragm. Dora doesn’t push, she seems incredibly receptive to non-verbal feedback and has left Hall alone.

The Timid Tiger is coming down to earth and paying attention to the rest of the session. He won’t let his past demons resurface.

Remain in the present. It’s another trick he was taught in the facility. When your mind goes too far in the future or you’re stuck in the past… look at the here and now. Ask yourself what’s within your control. Remind yourself what you have the ability to change.

Jonathan-Christopher can’t change his failures. Plus no one can predict what the future will hold.

But here. Right now. He is surrounded by thoughtful, supportive people.

It’s going to have to be enough.

Because Jonathan-Christopher can never feel like a loser again. If he did, it might kill him.

God knows PRIME almost did.

— — — — —
La Quinta Hotel
St. Petersburg, FL
January 15, 2023
06:00

Bright and early, it’s what they require, it’s how they jive together. Jonathan-Christopher has already made breakfast. Cereal, banana bread, a bowl of yogurt with fresh fruit inside, toast with your choice of butter, peanut butter or seventeen different kinds of jelly, bacon, Canadian bacon, since you can never have too much bacon, hash browns, black pudding (a Scottish favourite Vickie has just absolutely fallen in love with years ago although she’s never been to Scotland and can’t locate it on a map) and, of course, eggs benedict. There’s no other way to eat eggs… only the benedict way, it is divine.

Of course Jonathan-Christopher used to enjoy his eggs scrambled. Sometimes over-hard, too. But thank goodness for his ALP to point him in the right direction. Eggs benedict truly is the only acceptable answer.

“It’s ready, my baby,” he says softly enough in case she’s still in a slumber, Hall isn’t sure. Eventually, however, Vickie emerges from the bedroom in a hot pink nightgown. Her hair is perfect, according to Jonathan-Christopher. His breath has been snapped away. He doesn’t need to breathe, either. No diaphragmatic breathing at this moment. Jonathan-Christopher is not battling a spell of anxiety. Rather, he is in awe of her beauty. She paces gingerly into the kitchen suite. Daintily, if you will, with an arm chest-high and a pinky out, like prestigious royalty emerging from their castle. She’s going to be honest here, brutally honest… which is one of her many strong suits. La Quinta is a two-and-a-half-star hotel, at best. But she cannot overwhelm her man. They can’t have all the fixins. Not after last year. Last year can NEVER happen again.

“Dearest Jonathan-Christopher,” Pretty Pink says with a rub of her eyes, “this is a decent breakfast.”

She emphasizes the word decent, as if to say she’s pleased but there is room for improvement. Jonathan-Christopher’s heart begins racing but after seeing Vickie sit down at the table and take a slice of toast, he’s quickly at ease.

“Now, Jonathan-Christopher,” she begins but doesn’t look up from the table. “Since you and Darin are Tag Team Champions, I believe it’s time we went for it all!”

Her voice becomes more passionate with each word she speaks… until she glances up and realizes her man’s still standing in the kitchen.

“Awww my sweetie,” she says with a silliness in her voice. “Please come sit, you’ve worked so hard for breakfast.”

He smiles warmly and doesn’t waste another second. He scurries over, almost toppling through the kitchen table as he does. Hall takes a seat across from his ALP and gazes into her magnificent eyes.

“Start eating,” she scolds playfully with a giggle, as JCH reaches for the yogurt-

“No toast?” She wonders out loud, with a tilt of her head.

“Oh,” Jonathan-Christopher chuckles as he looks over everything in front of him. “I was definitely going to have some.”

“Well please do,” she reminds, “while it’s toasty and out of the toaster, teehee.”

He nods, putting aside his yogurt and takes a slice of toast. He was really looking forward to the yogurt and fresh fruit but no bother, he will get to it soon.

“We have to talk business,” Vickie revisits her initial train of thought. “Since we are the NEW Tag Team Champions, we shouldn’t be complacent. Complacency is the death sentence for marriages, don’t you think?”

She pauses. It takes the male ALP a short moment to catch on that she’s waiting for a reply.

“Yes, yes my love. You are so right.”

She leans back, closes her eyes and smiles. “Good. I’m glad we agree, because it’s also the death sentence for wrestlers, too.”

This time, Jonathan-Christopher is sharp and swift. “That makes so much sense, baby.”

“Excellent,” the Woman of Wonder states. “So I am thinking you and Darin Zion need to return to singles action…”

His heart skips a beat. A HARD beat. Immediately, he loses his hunger. His face feels pale, his hands clamp up. If beads of sweat could instantly develop on his forehead, there would be thousands of them popping out of his skin.

“Are you okay?”

He hears her, he does, but she seems so far away. TOO far away. He’s in the past. Another time, another place. Another nightmare.

He sees himself swaying back and forth… back and forth… back and forth. He’s on the floor of their “apartment”. Not their regular apartment, his inpatient unit. He’s in a white jacket, his hands are bound. He sees Hayes Hanlon, Brandon Youngblood. Too many Brandon Youngbloods. He wants to vomit. He wants to turn, run and jump through the window. Fall to his death. There’s no way he can risk losing again… and he doesn’t mean matches. He means HER. He means-

SNAP.

“Baby!” For such a tiny girl, she gives a huge bellow. It works; he’s captured in reality. “Don’t be scared. Awwwww sweetie, you’re scared, aren’t you? It’s okay…”

She takes hold of his right hand. She momentarily caresses it.

“I told you, I’m here. I never stopped loving you,” she declares, staring into his eyes. It calms him, he’s fully present.

“We are different,” she reminds him. “YOU are different. Stronger. Tougher. You’re no longer a rookie. You know what PRIME brings and you can get the most out of it. You can weather the storm. You’re my wonderful sea captain, the guy who is in charge of steering the boat. You know what way to lean and the direction to sail. PRIME does not like we are Tag Team Champions but now IS the time to go in a new direction.”

Is now the time, though? Or are they forced to go in a new direction…???

Vickie will have none of this narrative.

“Jonathan-Christopher,” she says sternly, as she reveals a small folder she placed beside the kitchen table. She opens it, revealing a mugshot of Adam Ellis and hand written notes on a sheet of paper below.

In reality, this match has already been made. Jonathan-Christopher vs. Adam Ellis for the first 2023 ReVival episode. However, the Forever Man has purposely stayed away from news outlets and breaking bulletins. He allows Vickie to relay the information.

“Your first opponent in a singles match since…” she catches herself, she doesn’t go there. Truth is Jonathan-Christopher has only ONE singles match his entire career, at the start of 2022.

Vic keeps chugging by.

“Adam Ellis is a former understudy of one John Sektor. You aren’t as well versed in the wrestling world, since I am obsessed with it but John Sektor is a retired wrestling legend from High Octane. He’s a sound technician, who may have a flamboyant demeanor but is business inside the ring.”

When Vickie can speak about wrestling, there’s a completely different context to her. She knows her shit and she isn’t messing around.

“Adam is young, impressionable, prone to make mistakes. In a way, he reminds me of a young version… of you.”

Jonathan-Christopher can feel his heart sink within his chest. Adam Ellis reminds her of HIM?

Does this mean she finds him interesting?

Does this mean she plans to watch him further?

Does this mean… she LIKES him?

“Jonathan-Christopher,” he’s brought back into the present again when Vickie briefly takes his hand for a second time. “I need you to focus, okay? This is a very serious direction we’re about to embark on.”

So she doesn’t like Adam, she doesn’t intend to leave her ALP for good. She said the word “we”. It provides JC comfort.

“Yes, baby,” the Vow of Virtue replies. “I am here. Present. With you.”

“Good.” Vickie is pleased.

“May I see the folder, baby?” He asks. “I can’t wait to read the scouting report.”

Surprisingly, Vickie does not hand it over. Instead, she closes the folder and places it where it came from. “After breakfast, my love.” She states, as Jonathan-Christopher realizes he still has a piece of toast waiting for him on his plate. They haven’t dug into a thing.

Jonathan-Christopher spreads butter across his bread before lifting it to his mouth, about to take a bite-

“No strawberry jam?” Vickie questions out loud. In response, the male ALP chuckles again.

“Silly me,” he says with a wink. “I love my strawberry jam.”

“Yes, you do.”

Hall proceeds to spread the jam across his toast to Vickie’s delight and Vickie places other items onto her plate, including the eggs benedict.

“I love you baby,” she says with a bat of her eyes and then absolutely devours what’s in front of her.

“And I love you, baby.”

— — — — —

Can you hear me God? It’s me, Jonathan-Christopher.

I was never a praying man until I found the twelve-step program. Since then, I have recognized the impact of prayer.

Please let me defeat Adam Ellis at ReVival 21. I need to start my new and improved singles career on the right track.

I wish I was facing someone easy next week. I wonder if there’s anyone else you could align me with in the future. Lindsay Troy hates us. She’s going to make our lives a living hell by making my life one. She already has. Can you please provide me the strength and grace to handle the storm she throws at the two of us?

Above all else, I need the victory.

I will work hard in the match, I swear. I’ve been training every morning.

I try so, so hard for Vickie. I try to be better every day. I put my lady first. Always. She means everything to me. She’s my life blood. My soulmate. I don’t mean that by definition. I wanted to die when she wasn’t around. She treats me so well. It’s all I know and want.

I want her to be happy. She is so wonderful and amazing.

That’s why I need to win.

For her, not for me.

Adam Ellis is a young man with his whole life ahead of him. He doesn’t need the win. Please give me the victory. I will continue to devote myself to my Amazing Life Partner. I have built such resiliency over the past six months. It can’t go undone.

Adam can afford a loss. It makes sense for him to lose. He can also return to Bergman’s Barn at any time. I’m sure John Sektor won’t think anything less of his protégé.

I need this. I really, really, really need this.

I can’t go back, you know I can’t.

I can build strength through my victory.

Thank you, God.

Thank you for saving my marriage.

-Jonathan-Christopher Hall.

— — — — —
Homewood Health
Inpatient Unit
New Orleans, LA
August 20, 2022
08:08

It took three caseworkers to hold his arms down, two for his legs and one for the injection. He doesn’t know how long he’s been out for but when he opens his eyes, the scene is a blur.

He remembers, though. Oh he remembers rather quickly. He realizes he’s sitting upright. He wants to leave.

No, not leave.

Run.

Run away.

FAR away.

Never to return!

But he can barely move. Not only because he is bound to the chair by his wrists and ankles, whatever drugs they put in his system, it’s zapped all his energy.

Fuzzy, everything is fuzzy. Eventually, he sees a desk in front of him and then an empty chair. He finally has the wherewithal to gather information from his senses. His neck muscles loosen until he hears the opening of a door behind him and one of the case worker’s voices. His neck tightens again.

“He’s right over there, Mrs. Hall.”

Tap, tap, tap, the high heels echo through the room as they draw closer with each step. His heart begins to pound, practically rocketing out of his chest.

Tap, tap, tap, the heels are almost directly behind him. With a brush of his shoulder, he sees a blurry figure walking past him.

She takes the chair in front of him and then sits. His eyes haven’t acclimated to nearsightedness yet. Therefore, he isn’t sure if it is her.

Until she raises her voice.

“Dearest Jonathan-Christopher, my baby,” she says with heavy concern. “I am here for you, my lovely.”

Immediately, his neck muscles loosen. His heart rate regulates, his eyes open. He sees her. Completely.

Her facial expression… her forehead is wrinkled together.

“I am willing to take you back, Jonathan-Christopher,” she states firmly. “I want to be together.”

If he could speak, this is the time he would. But he can’t. His jaw is way too stiff.

She reaches for his hand. She grasps it and caresses it lightly… but then, she pauses and her eyebrows slant downward.

“Under one condition…”