A Death in the Family

[cyborg878]

Death is unavoidable. No matter how hard we try we will all face death eventually. No magical fountains of youth, or philospher's stones will save us from the end of life. Everything that has lived, is living, or will live has died, is dieing or will die. There is no escape, there is only acceptance.

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The scene opens and Nathan is standing in a funeral home. The walls are a coffee colour, the floors are carpeted with a deep red. He is standing in the hallway, beside him stands his brother Aaron. Damon is on his other side holding his husband's hand. Their son Christian stands in front of them. They wait for people to walk in. Several people who had 'known the deceased' have already arrived. The wake started twenty minutes ago. The Warrens were waiting for people they knew. People that they wanted at the wake. People they needed.

It had been shocking. It was un expected. Why of all people them? Why did they have to die? And now? They had such a great life ahead of them. Their life had started to turn around, and now it was over. It was a true tragedy.

Nathan sees the people he needs walk in the door. James, Danielle, Desiree, Kevin, J.T., Talia, Jane and Chris. They walk up to the Warrens. The women all hug Aaron and Nathan.

Danielle: How are you two holding up?

Nathan: Aaron seems to be doing a bit better than me, but we ... this really hurts. I just can't describe how horrible I feel right now.

Damon: He's cried himself to sleep every night since he found out.

Talia: Well we are here for you one hundred percent.

Jane: Yup. It's tough, but you have your friends and family who are here for the both of you no matter.

James: We got your back no matter bud.

Nathan: Thanks guys.

J.T.: If you don't mind me asking, what happened?

Aaron: ...she was shot. A mugger.

Kevin: You're kidding!?

Nathan: It's the truth. The mugger apparently got frustrated and shot her....

Desiree: Oh my god...that's....that's horrible.

Desiree puts her hands to her face in shock.

Damon: She's in a better place now.

Nathan: Heaven doesn't exist Damon...

Damon: I meant death. Life is pain. Death is release.

Nathan: Didn't you know who used to sa-

Damon: No he didn't...shhhh. ....So are we ready to go in?

Nathan: As ready as I'll ever be.

As they walk into the room where the casket holding the deceased awaits Nathan remembers everything. The call, the visit, the moment that changed his life.

Nathan walks out of the kitchen as the phone rings. He goes into the livingroom and picks up the phone.

Nathan: Great job answering everyone. Great job. Hi?

: Hello, is this Nathan or Aaron Warrens?

Nathan: Yes this is Nathan, may I ask who this is?

: This is Police Chief Richard Danielson. I need to talk to you in person.

Nathan: Umm...okay?

: I'll be over as soon as possible.

Nathan waits and waits until he hears the doorbell. He opens the door and a tall, thin police officer is standing in the doorway. Nathan lets him in.

Richard: Hi I'm Richard Daniels, we spoke on the phone.

Nathan: Yeah, so what do we need to talk about?

Richard: I think we should sit down.

They sit in the living room. Nathan is still curious as to why and begins to become worried.

Richard: We got a call from the Ontario Provincial Police not too long ago. Your mother died.

Nathan: No! No way!

Nathan bursts into tears. He begins to hyperventilate and shake.

Richard: I'm sorry. She was found dead after she was shot in a mugging gone wrong. I'm extremely sorry for your loss.

Nathan continues to sob, not uttering a word.

Richard: If its any consolation, we have her murderer in custody.

Nathan: It doesn't help at all, cause she's still gone.

Richard: Again I'm very sorry about your loss.

Richard leaves and Nathan gets up and locks the door. He goes back to the livingroom and curls up in the fetal position on the couch.

As they enter the room Nathan's eyes fall immediately on the casket. Aaron too seems horrified, yet mesmirised by the casket containing their mother. As if in a trance like state the two block out everyone, every noise, everything, but the casket. They walk slowly towards it. They reach the coffin and look in. There lies Mrs. Warrens. She has on her favourite wig, a short punky blonde one. She has a red dress on that she wore to all the formal events she went to. As Nathan looks at his mother tears begin to run down his face. Someone grabs him by the shoulders. Nathan turns to see Damon. Damon wipes away Nathan's tears and Nathan hugs him as he continues to sob. Damon wraps his arms around Nathan.

Damon: I love you, and she does too. She may not be alive, but she lives on forever with you and Aaron. I know you are really sad, but I think your mother would rather you celebrate her life instead of cry over her death. She would want you to remember all the good times you had with her. She will always be with you in your heart and your mind. Just remember, she's never really gone.

Damon kisses Nathan on the top of his head.

Nathan: I didn't even get to say good-bye.

Damon: Well that means you don't have to ever wait for another hello. That means the conversation is still there. She's just waiting for you to talk.

Nathan: Thank you.

Damon: Don't worry about it, I'm always here for you. You're going to be okay. You're the strongest person I know.

As the embrace continues Nathan watches as Jane, Danielle, Talia and Desiree walk up to the casket holding a rose each.

Talia: You don't mind if we place these with her?

Nathan: No, but I thought the rose was your...

Talia: Why do you think they aren't the ones we usually buy?

Desiree: Mine is red because of the love you and Aaron have for her and she has for you two.

Desiree places the rose over Mrs. Warrens heart.

Danielle: Mine is blue for hope. She survived cancer, and I guarentee her hope took her through it. Not to mention the hopes she had for you and Aaron.

Danielle places her rose next to Desiree's.

Talia: Mine is white for life. Your mother was so full of life and happiness. No matter if she was sad, angry, confused, happy, your mother always brightened up a room.

Talia places the rose next to Danielle's.

Jane: Mine is purple for her exquisite beauty. Even in death your mom is the most beautiful woman I've ever met, inside and outside. She had the most amazingpersonality, and looks that matched. She was truly one in a million.

Jane places the final rose next to Talia's. Nathan smiles through tears.

Nathan: Thank you so much ladies. This means a lot.

During all of this Aaron is in his own world. He is remembering the frantic call he got from his brother. The worst phone call of his life.

Aaron walks out of the wrestling gym. He heads towards his car. He gets in, but just before he turns on the car his phone starts to ring.

Aaron: Hey?

Nathan: Aaron mom's dead!

Aaron: What? You can't be serious.

Nathan: A...a cop just came and told me.

Aaron: What happened!?

Nathan: Apparently a....a. mugging that went wrong.

Aaron: This can't be happening. This...no. It's not true! She can't be gone!

Aaron tosses his phone at the passenger's side window. He leans forward onto the steering wheel and begins to cry, a rare occurance for him.

Nathan: ...Aaron....are you there? Talk to me... I can't deal with this alone....

Aaron was always the more emotionally stable of the two brothers. He was usually good at dealing with his own emotionals. This was one of the only times he was struggling. He wanted to bottle it all up, but knew it would make it all worse. So it iss because of this that Aaron Warrens, of all people, begins to cry. It ss a little at first, but then a few tears turn into a trail. Nathan sees and hugs his brother. Soon the ladies of Gen-X and Damon and Christian join. The men of Gen-X hesitate, but ultimately join.

James: Nate and Aaron, remember, we're you're family too. And family sticks together.

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The scene opens again in the funeral home. This time the funeral is about to start. Everyone is dressed formally and in their seats. The minister stands at the front.

Minister: I never knew Mrs. Warrens personally, but I know from what I have been told she was a strong, courageous, loving woman. I would like to tell you how great she is, but I truly do not know of her greatness. There are two people that do. And they are going to tell you how amazing this woman was and is.

The minister steps aside ande Nathan and Aaron walk up to the microphone.

Nathan: I don't think there is a word that describes how loving, how strong, how amazing our mom was.

Aaron: She was the bravest woman that's ever been a part of my life. She was born into a small family, with little money to their name. She was a good student, never spectacular, but never bad either. But her grades never reflected her intelligence.

Nathan: Our mom was extremely smart. She knew so more about gardening than anyone at the store she worked at. Her garden was one of her passions. It was always so beautiful, like her.

Aaron: That beauty never left her, even when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She was told she wasn't supposed to live more than three years after the diagnosis. She lived for fifteen years. She never let her cancer beat her, she never let it change her, or ruin her day. She started radiation therapy and it caused her to lose her hair. That still didn't take away her beauty. Most of her beauty was internal, but she was a beautiful woman on the outside as well, and hair loss never affected that.

Nathan: If anything it made her happier. She bought tons of wigs, I swear one for every day of the year, and she had so much fun trying on different hairstyles. She always managed to smile. The cancer, the uneasy household, it never stopped her from brightening a room when she walked in. When you saw her your day got so much better. She always knew how to cheer you up.

Aaron: She was the one thing that kept homelife relatively sane. Things got pretty heated and hectic at home, but she always managed to keep things running as smoothly as possible.

Nathan: I owed her my life and not just because she gave birth to me. One day after a fight between myself and her husband, I locked myself in my room and tried to overdose. She broke the door down and got me to the hospital in time. She never left my side. The day I woke up she did something that changed my life. She told me she was going to pay for Aaron and I to go to the wrestling school nearby. We ended up going and learned. She would come to all of our shows, screaming her lungs out with the rest of the fans.

Aaron: She always supported our dreams and ambitions. She was there for Nathan when he came out, she was there when he tried to OD, she was there for me when I was forced to leave wrestling. She was the kind of person that would back you up no matter what, she'd always be there.

Nathan: Our mother wouldn't want us to be here mourning her death. She would rather us celebrate her life. So while we are all understandably sad, I ask you to be happy. She lived a full, fun, loving life. At this time I ask Damon to come up.

Nathan and Aaron sit down and Damon walks up to the microphone carryin an acoustic guitar.

Damon: Nathan told me this was his mother's favourite song.

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird fly, Blackbird fly
Into the light of the dark black night

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise,
You were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Damon finishes and there isn't a dry eye in the room. Nathan smiles and hugs his husband.

Nathan: We will now be driving to the gravesite.

Nathan exits followed by Gen Xtreme. Behind them hired hands carry the casket to the hearse. The Warrens get into their car and follow the hearse to the gravesite in silence as the rest of the attendees follow behind. They reach the plot of land Mrs. Warrens is to be buried in and park. Everyone gets out as they arrive. The casket is taken from the hearse and placed onto the lowering ropes.

Nathan: Good-bye mom. I miss you already.

The casket is slowly lowered into the grave. Once it reaches the bottom dirt begins to fill the hole, care of the hired hands.

Nathan: Thank you all for coming. If you wish to place any flowers on her grave, you may.

As Nathan walks away he sees people putting flowers on his mother's grave. He walks over to Damon, Aaron and Christian and hold them all close.

Nathan: I love you guys.

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The Xtreme Journal
May 26, 2011

Life lasts a moment, death is forever. No matter how great we are in life, we all face death eventually. Death is the one guarentee about life. You can run from the Grim Reaper, but eventually he comes to drag you into the darkness that is death. Though is death really all that bad? I mean, in death you never get sick, you never feel pain. You never get hurt, you never hurt anyone else. Maybe the Christians are right in a way. Maybe Death is the Heaven that saves you from the Hellish Earth. Who really knows? The dead, who can't tell us the truth.

Speaking of truth. The Elite, you truly picked the wrong time to attack us. Our mother died last week. We have enough stress without you spineless pricks jumping us and our friends. For months The Elite has walked around PCW like they own the place. For months The Elite has ambushed wrestler after wrestler. No more. You attacked us last week, but like karma, we're bitches. Payback will come soon and like death, it's unavoidable. Act I of our revenge will be upon you soon enough. You want gang wars, you'll fucking get it. Ready to Sleep Wit' Da Bitches?

Onto this week, Slamathon. We, the Brothers Warrens face off against the Double Dragons. We made the challenge to the Dragons for several reasons. The Dragons have not had a title opportunity in a looooooooooong time. It's about time they get a chance. We have been sent challengers like the O'Reilly Brothers, Disturbed's Disciples, Saint's Army, and where the fuck are they all now? The O'Reilly's were a minor inconvenience we got rid of in a matter of weeks. The Disciples, don't know where the fuck the other one is, but Triton has his lips super-glued to the ass cheeks of one Johhny Scumm. With a name like Scumm, well let's just say Triton may want an industrial strength cleaner... And then there's the Saint's Army. Since PCW has started they have accomplished a whole lot of...nothing. In fact the little success they have had was when they teamed with us. Ever since we split from them they have received ass whoopin' after ass whoopin'. Where are the real challenges?

The Dragons actually deserve a shot at our titles. They have charisma, they have respect, and they have talent. Sure their costumes are a little goofy, but Aaron can't say anything cause he was dressed as the fuckin' Crimson Thunder Ranger for about a month or two. Nonetheless Power Rangers costumes or not the Double Dragons are one of the best teams we've seen. Their astounding ability, and their passion for making sure every single person in the arena, every person watching at home gets a great match makes you respect them whether you like them or not.

One thing that always makes me smile, is the fact Johnny and Jeff, no matter what are such fun loving guys. Their pranks are fucking hilarious. You don't know how many of those have actually caused me to double over laughing, which would be a good thing right now. I need to laugh.

Now apparently they went to a PFLAG meeting which is great. It makes me happy to see more people standing up for the LGBT. It shows again the great respect they have for opponents and people in general. However it doesn't change a thing, we will not show them any mercy.

They were right, we are hardcore people. We are the definition of xtreme. We will not die. An example? How about when we teamed up with Nightrain to face The Elite? The Elite attacked us early in the night. It was so bad we were supposed to be taken to the hospital. We STILL showed up. We stumbled out to the ring and we still fought. We fought until we couldn't fight anymore. This week at Slamathon it will be no different. We will walk into the match as champions. We will fight and fight until the Dragons lay defeated and we will walk out champions. We are the best.

Good luck at Slamathon, you will truly need it.

Life is paiN Death is freedoM

-Nathan Warrens