The Man (A Seth Rollins Story) (Reupload)

Chapter 45- Talks in the Stairwell (Marci's POV)

~ Two Weeks Later: October 18, 2021 ~

After examining everything that I had heard, I decided to finally talk to Jon. I got on a plane the next day and drove to the hotel where Jon was staying currently. I walked in to see Colby checking in. He looked terrible.

"Hey, Lopez."

He looked over at me and he looked happy. Like he was happy he was seeing me in front of him.

"Hi. I didn't expect to see you here."

"What? Did you really expect me to be moping around?"

"No. I just expected you to quit WWE."

"What? Why?"

"You got shot."

"So? That had nothing to do with me being a wrestler. That could have happened anywhere at any time."

"I know that."

"Then why are you freaking out?"

He looked away and then the hotel employee came back and handed Colby his card. Colby started to walk away but I ran after him.

"Colby."

He stopped walking and sighed. He walked towards me and grabbed my hand. He then led me towards the stairwell. I walked with him and I was soon standing face to face with him.

"You don't understand."

"What do I not understand?"

"How I felt when I heard you got hurt."

"Well, explain it to me."

He looked away, like he was embarrassed and scared to say anything.

"Just tell me."

"You were hurt. And it wasn't the kind of hurt I could just fix by telling you I'm sorry or saying that I was wrong. And I felt, useless. I couldn't do anything to help you. You were dying and there was nothing I could say or do to change that."

"I'm sorry."

He looked at me, suddenly angry. "Don't you dare do that. Don't say that you're sorry. What happened isn't your fault and I don't want you blaming yourself for what happened. But, can I ask a favor of you?"

I was reluctant to reply. "Ok."

"Quit."

"What?"

"Quit. Leave the WWE."

"Why would I do that?"

"Quit. Please. See? I asked nicely."

"Why are asking that of me?"

"Because I know what this job does to people. I see the hurt, pain and death that surrounds this profession. And the next time I see you, I don't want it to be in a body bag."

Colby started to walk up the stairs.

"Fine. I'll quit. But only if you quit too."

He turned back around. "What?"

"You heard me. If I quit, you have to quit too."

"I'm not quitting."

"Good. Neither am I."

Colby threw his stuff down and came towards me.

"Why? Why can't you just quit?"

"Because this is what I love."

"Didn't seem that way when you abandoned it and your friends several years ago."

"Is that what this is about? You're still mad about me leaving? You know the reason why I left."

"Explain it to me."

"Explain what to you? Why I left? You already know."

"Explain it to me anyways."

I sighed. "It was torture. Seeing you at every turn, seeing you with different women every night. It was like a stabbing pain that I couldn't get rid of. And you want to know the worst part? I still loved you. Even after all the pain and nights I cried myself to sleep, I still wanted you. I wanted to hate you. I wanted to hate you so bad. But I couldn't. I couldn't hate you. I tried telling myself that I did but I couldn't do it. And that is why I left. Because no matter how much you hurt me, I knew I would throw away all of my resolve if you said you loved me just once. And I couldn't have that. I couldn't do that to myself. So, I left. And it worked. I wasn't near you. I wasn't happy but at least I didn't have the shame of crawling back to you."

"Marci. I... I'm so sorry. I know that I hurt you. And I feel like a terrible person."

"Good."

"Ok, I deserved that. I wish there was something I could do to make this right but I know there isn't. I just hope that one day, you'll forgive me."

"Don't count on it."

"I'll try not too. But I hope that you do forgive me. Because I want you in my life, Marci. That is all I want."

Colby then out of nowhere, hugged me. I didn't hug him back but the simple gesture almost brought me to tears. Colby smiled and went up the stairs. I couldn't worry about him now. I took several deep breaths before making my way to Jon's room.