She’s faced many challenges in her time, most battles inside of a ring. Debuts, singles, an occasional tag, and title matches, but the biggest battle she faces thus far is for her life.  No amount of training, strategizing, or cheating would ever prepare her for the battle ahead.  Losing could not become an option; her outcome must be victorious.

You walk through life with the intention of living forever, the legacy you leave behind reflects how well you lived, and the essence of time begins to fade as the sun sets each day.

Thunder begins to roll as the lightning strikes close by.  Summer still rests in a coma, her beloved Hunter at her bedside; it was 3:30 in the morning.  Cassie laid asleep cupped into the chest of a man she just met.  William had made his way into the family, simply from a random act of kindness.

Colton had left the hospital not long ago.  He would face his family’s burdens head on, as he now must lead his father through the toughest part of his life.  A legend, in his career, the Icon of Hardcore, the optimum of pain, Hunter’s shell had been shattered, as his heart, now ripped from his chest, lies helpless in a hospital bed. It was almost DeJa’Vu. 

Thoughts traveled back to a time when he, himself, was once a victim of a battle he thought he had lost.  It was the presence, and the determination of Summer’s will, that led him to his victory.  It was her biggest, most important battle she would face then, and she mastered that victory and brought back the life of the man she so desperately loved.  It had now become Hunter’s turn.

He lays slumped over her bedside, his head resting upon the side of her chest, reassuring himself that her heart still beats, having not left her bedside since her arrival.  A clash of thunder awakens Cassie as she opens her eyes, finding herself in the opened arms of William.  She lifts her head gently and takes notice of the view before her.  Hunter began to lift his neck, causing cavitation to occur with each roll from side to side.  “Morning Daddy.” Cassie whispers softly.  He turns his head slightly to the left with a smile as he takes notice of William sleeping in one of the chairs. “Morning, Kiddo.” He answers back. “Sleep well?” he smiled.  Cassie rolls her eyes with a smile.

William begins to move around, awakening with the sound of Cassie’s voice. He too begins to roll his neck and stretches out his arms. “Everything alright, Sir?” He looks to Hunter as he’s rubbing Summer’s head gently.  “She is still with us, that is a good sign.” William nodded and began to stand from the chair.  He looked at the clock on the wall behind Summer’s bed; it was now 5am. “How about I go and get us something to eat.”  He glanced over to Cassie. “Text me what you would like.”  He stepped into the lavatory in Summer’s room, then walked to the door.  “But I don’t have..”  Cassie was thumbing through her phone that was placed upon the windowsill behind the chair she rested in and smiled.  William had put his number in as she lay asleep in his arms that night. “My Asshole... huh?”  He grinned as he walked out of Summer’s room.  Hunter lets out a small chuckle as a smile formed across his face.  “I like that kid.”  He looked at Cassie.  “You would, Daddy.”  She gives him a sarcastic smile.

Cassie now walks into the lavatory and glares at her image in the mirror.  “Mom would kill me if she woke up and saw me looking this way.”  Her hair was still uncombed from the morning before, and her makeup more smeared and caked upon her eyelids.  “Dad, when William gets back, I will take him home and I will get cleaned up.  I also need to see if I can find Kita.  Will you be alright?”  Hunter nodded. “Handle your business, little one.  Ol’ Pops will be just fine.”  He reached for Summer’s hand, bringing it to his lips, and kissing the knuckles of her four fingers. Cassie sat down in the chair and began to text William.  “Change of plans, just grab a bottle coke, a little Debbie cake and a bag of cheese Doritos.  Do not get the ranch flavor! I will explain when you get back.”

She sat staring out of the window, seven stories up was the elevation of Summer’s room.  She slowly pulls open the curtain, allowing a bit of the rising sun’s radiance to shine inside the room.  It was a gloomy sight, these four walls, perhaps the warmth of the sun would help awaken her mom.  With a tap upon the door, William enters the room.  He has in hand 2 coffees, a coke, a bag of cheese Doritos and a Little Debbie cake, Cassie stands and walks over, handing out the food to her dad.  “Here Daddy, eat this for now.  I will bring you some real food when we…” she turns to William with wide eyes, noticing her mistake. He smiles in return with a raised eyebrow. “I return.”

“Thanks, boy.” Hunter nodded as he accepted the food from Cassie’s hands.  “No trouble at all, sir.” William replied.  “I will be back soon dad, call me if anything changes.”  With a nod, Hunter smiles twisting the cap of the soda to get a drink.  “It is not a beer, but it will do,” he laughed as he tipped the bottle in William’s direction.  Cassie shakes her head, giving her father a kiss on the head and grabbing William by the arm as the two walk out of the door.

“I’ve got to get myself cleaned up and into some fresh clothes.” Cassie says as the two walk down the hall.  “Alright, I will call myself an Uber, and perhaps we can talk later.”  William answers as he begins to scroll through his phone.  Cassie stops, reaching out to William’s arm.  She lowers his phone and looks him in the eye.  “You will do no such thing; I can take you.  It’s the least I can do.”  They continue to walk out of the hospital and to the parking deck.  Cassie begins to pat her jeans for her keys, as William pulls them from his pocket.  “Looking for these?”  He lifts them above her head, making her reach for them.  “Alright Asshole.” She says playfully.  William just laughs as he presses the key fob to unlock the door.  He begins to open the driver’s door with a bow and a hand gesture to escort Cassie inside.  She steps in, adjusting her seat. As she pushed the start button, her cellphone rang; it was Colton.  “Hey, how’s the folks?”  You could hear his voice coming from the speaker.  “Still no change. Have not seen the doctor’s this morning, William and I just left.”  You could hear the snicker in Colton’s voice, “Oh Willy boy, huh?” he laughs as you can hear Lily in the background, “Who’s Willy?” Cassie looks over to William who just shakes his head.  “Has Pops eaten anything?” Colton asked.  “Not really, we just got him a coke, some chips and a Debbie cake, nothing more than that.  I’m going home to clean up and bring him back some real food. Are you planning on going back up there?”  Cassie asked.  “Yea, I was just checking to see how things were.  Lily wants to see mom.  I’m just not too sure about Sammy seeing her like that.”  Cassie gives a half smile. “I understand, it could be a good thing for mom.  You know how she is about him.  But that also could be a bit traumatizing for the little spawn.  Tell you what, talk it over with Lily and if you decide not to take him, drop him off at the ranch, I’m sure I can find something for him to do.  We should be there in about 30 minutes.”  Again, Colton’s laughter could be heard.  “It’s we now huh?”  Cassie lets out a short grunt. “You know what I mean, Colton.” He continues to laugh.  “Sounds good, I will text you and let you know for sure, thanks Sis.”  Colton hangs up.

The truck’s engine still roars as Cassie looks down at the few texts she’s received while talking to Colton.  William sits on the passenger side looking over to Cassie as she seems to be fully focused upon the text.  “Would you like me to drive you home?  You look a bit preoccupied.  If you want to be there in thirty minutes, we really need to leave.”  Cassie still focused on the text; it was Damon.  Listening to William’s words, but not thinking clearly, she leans over to her right, sliding herself over William’s lap as he can tell she is swapping seat positions.  Something that was just natural for her.  While she moves, William slides underneath as their eyes are now deadlocked together.  They remain still for just a few moments, though feeling as if it were hours.  Cassie quickly moves to the right, and sits now on the passenger side, wide eyed and red faced.  She turns her head sharply to the right and immediately stares out of the window.

The two sit quietly; the engine still runs; William breaks the silence.  “So, you want to tell me where you live?”  Cassie takes a deep, soothing breath and turns her head to William slowly. “That would be a good idea, wouldn’t it?” The two smile at each other and the tension breaks instantly.  “Google Kensington Ranch, that should bring you right to it.”  William nods, “No need, I know exactly where that is.” Cassie looks surprised. “You do?” William puts the truck in drive, and they begin down the road. “Yep, I used to go there sometimes in the summer when I was just a kid, when I would come visit my father.  Did you know the Kensington’s?”  Cassie was dumbfounded, this is where she grew up, every year as a child; she would spend her summers there, helping Grandpa Maxwell with the horses.  This was her favorite childhood memory.  “Know them?” she laughed. “I am one of them.”  William slows down, coming to a halt at the red light. “Wait a minute….” How could this be, he thought to himself, there was no way the world could be this small.  All those years growing up, he had thought about that smart-mouthed, little girl he met on the ranch.  The girl he looked forward to seeing every summer, the same girl who taught him how to ride a horse instead of a motorcycle and was the very same girl he secretly had a crush on.  “Trashie?”  William said as the cars behind him honked.  He sped up, going under the green light. “What did you just say? “Cassie turned to William with a confused look.  “Trashie, Trashie Cassie. That was you?” His heart was racing, he had felt just like that young boy again, eagerly waiting for summer vacation to his father’s house, just to see her again.

It had been many years, it seemed since she heard those words.  The words, only one boy would call her.  He was the nerdy, city boy Colton’s age that came to visit every summer, the boy she eagerly waited for every morning to come over. He was arrogant, a typical mean boy, a non-horse-riding bully; but he was her first crush.  “Billy?”   Cassie’s heart also began to flutter, she was feeling flustered and those butterflies that only flew inside her stomach when he was around, were back.  He was the boy in her picture that remained on her bedroom dresser all these years in her old room upstairs.  They pull up to the gate at the ranch and sit quietly for just a moment.  William turns his head to Cassie and smiles. “Let me see if I can still remember the code.”  He lowers the window; he leans over the truck door and types the numbers on the keypad.  A few seconds later, the gate slides open. “Wow, how did you know the code?”  Cassie looked at him amazed.  “It was only the prettiest girl’s birthday, that I ever met.”  They drive inside and the gates shut behind them.  William pulls up the drive, and to the side of the front door.  He begins to step out as Cassie reaches for the door.  He leans back in, pulling her by the arm and shaking his head.  “Let go..”  He slips out of the truck, walking to the passenger’s side and opens the door for her.  He has his right arm propped up on the top of the door frame, and the other blocking Cassie’s exit.  She slides out of the truck, blocked in by his arm, she stands looking up into his eyes, they smile, and he takes her by the hand, kissing the top of her bent wrist.  William shuts the door, cups her hand in his and they walk up the front porch.  They stood at the door; William’s hand was on the knob about to open it.  Cassie stood quietly with her back against the frame with her eyes locked upon his.  William doesn’t move, he just stares down into her eyes with a calm, somber look as Cassie steps into him, reaching up for the neckline of his shirt, pulling him down for a kiss.