Continuing The Fight for Justice

Chapter 19

26 October 2022

Wednesday

Tori's P.O.V

I sit in my car and watch as the raindrops hit my windshield. It's been pouring for the past hour or so, and I'm not sure how much longer it will last. I take a deep breath and pull out my phone, scrolling through my contacts until I find Jon's number. I hesitate for a moment before pressing the call button.

The phone rings a few times before he answers. "Hello?"

"Hey, Jon. It's Tori. I hope I'm not catching you at a bad time?"

"No, it's fine. What's up?"

I pause for a moment, trying to figure out how to approach the subject. "So, um, I don't know if you remember, but it's the 10 year anniversary of The Shield next month."

Jon's voice is quiet on the other end of the line. "Yeah, I remember."

"Well, WWE wants to do something to commemorate it, but they're having trouble getting in touch with you. I was wondering if you'd be willing to talk to me about it, maybe give me some ideas on how to approach you."

There's a long pause before he responds. "I don't know, Tori. I've been trying to distance myself from all of that. It's been a long time since I've been a part of WWE."

"I understand, Jon. But it's a big milestone, and I think it would mean a lot to the fans to hear from you. Plus, it could be a good opportunity to clear the air and set the record straight on some things."

Another pause. "Okay, fine. I'll talk to you about it. But I'm not making any promises."

"Thank you, Jon. I really appreciate it."

We talk for a few more minutes, and I can tell that he's still hesitant, but at least he's willing to consider it. As we hang up, I feel a sense of relief wash over me. This is a big opportunity for me, but it's also a chance to reconnect with Jon and maybe even help him heal some old wounds.

I start the car and head back to my apartment, already making a mental list of questions to ask him. It's going to be a tough interview, but I'm up for the challenge. After all, this is what I was meant to do.

...

A few days later, I sit across from Jon in a coffee shop, my recorder on the table between us. He looks uneasy, shifting in his seat and avoiding eye contact.

"Thanks for meeting with me, Jon," I say, trying to ease the tension. "I know this isn't easy for you."

He shrugs. "It's fine. Let's just get this over with."

I nod, taking a deep breath before starting the interview. "So, it's been 10 years since The Shield debuted. Looking back, what are your thoughts on that time in your career?"

Jon's expression softens a bit, and he looks down at his hands. "It was a wild ride. We were doing something different, something fresh. It was exciting to be a part of."

I nod, scribbling down notes. "And what about your departure from WWE? Can you talk about what led to that decision?"

Jon hesitates, taking a sip of his coffee before answering. "It was a lot of things, really. Personal stuff. Creative differences. It just wasn't the right fit for me anymore."

I take a deep breath before asking, "Can you elaborate on the creative differences?"

Jon shifts in his seat, clearly uneasy with the question. "It's just something that happens in any creative field, you know? Sometimes you have different ideas than the people you're working with, and it can lead to disagreements."

I nod, but I can tell there's more to the story. "Did you feel like you were being stifled creatively?"

He hesitates, taking another sip of coffee before answering. "I think there were certain things that I wanted to do that just weren't possible in WWE. And there were other things that I didn't agree with, but that's just part of the job, I guess."

I press him further, wanting to know what exactly he wanted to do that WWE wouldn't allow. But he shuts down, saying he doesn't want to go into it any further.

Feeling a bit defeated, I try to shift the conversation to a lighter topic. "So, what have you been up to since leaving WWE?"

Jon seems to relax a bit, talking about his various projects and hobbies. We chat for a few more minutes before I realize that it's time to wrap up the interview.

"Thanks so much for your time, Jon. I really appreciate it."

He nods, finishing the last of his coffee. "No problem. It was good to catch up."

As we stand up to leave, I can't shake the feeling that I didn't get all the answers I was looking for. But I know that I can't force someone to talk about something they're not comfortable with. All I can do is hope that Jon knows he can trust me, and that maybe someday he'll feel comfortable enough to open up.

_________________

As I leave the coffee shop, I can't help but feel a sense of disappointment. I had hoped that Jon would open up more during our interview, but it seems like there are still some things he's not ready to talk about. As a journalist, it's always frustrating when you can't get the whole story, but I know that sometimes you have to respect people's boundaries.

I take a deep breath and remind myself that this is just the first step. Maybe after some time has passed, Jon will be willing to talk more about his experiences in WWE and his decision to leave. For now, I'll focus on writing the best article I can with the information I have.

Over the next few days, I pour over my notes and conduct additional research to fill in any gaps. I write and rewrite the article until I'm satisfied that it tells the story as accurately and honestly as possible. I send it off to my editor, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement.

A few days later, the article is published online. I brace myself for the feedback, knowing that there are always people who will have something negative to say. But overall, the response is positive. People appreciate the insight into Jon's experience and are glad to hear from him again.

I'm scrolling through the comments section when my phone rings. It's an unknown number, but something tells me to answer it.

"Hello?"

"Tori, it's Jon."

I sit up straight, feeling a jolt of surprise. "Hey, Jon. What's up?"

"I just wanted to say thank you for the article. I know I was hesitant to talk about some things, but I appreciate that you respected my boundaries."

I feel a sense of relief wash over me. "Of course, Jon. It's important to me that people feel comfortable talking to me."

There's a pause before he speaks again. "I also wanted to say that I'm sorry for being so guarded during the interview. It's not you, it's just hard for me to talk about some things."

I smile, feeling a sense of understanding. "I get it, Jon. It's not always easy to open up. But I'm here whenever you're ready."

He thanks me again before we say our goodbyes.As I hang up, I can't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Maybe this is justthe beginning of a new chapter in my relationship with Jon. And who knows whatother stories I'll uncover as I continue down this path.

........