Rise and Shine

The frosty winds fogged up my windows as the morning hit. The crisp, cold air sunk in as I left it open like a dumbass the night before, leaving the room to feel like a fridge as I snored loudly. I was in the prime of my life, and it showed as I was too big for my bed. I was built large, due to my profession as a wrestler. But those days, I let myself go when it came to self-care.

It was December, and my local wrestling federation at the time, Minnesota Mountain Wrestling, closed due to the pandemic. It was hard to find a normal job since my resume was a little lacking. All I’ve ever done was wrestling. I ate, shit, and wiped wrestling. I found work eventually as an assistant instructor at a local wrestling academy that chose to stay open despite the pleas of the mayor. The shithead owner of the gym rambled on about freedom or whatever, I don’t care, I just wanted to get paid.

I eventually stirred, falling out of bed to feel the embrace of the ice-cold wooden floor below me. I shivered, as I wore nothing but my boxers to bed. As I got used to the cold ground, I lazily pulled open my phone to see the weather for today. Winter never looked more miserable. With the temperatures hitting a high of 17 degrees, I lamented about why that asshole even got me on the morning shifts. It’s bad enough I’m risking my life to pay rent (ironic, considering my profession before the pandemic hit) I’m also getting up in the mornings to help jacked-up meatheads who think mask mandates are as legit as unicorns get in shape. I let my fatigue hit me, finding comfort in the chilled floor, passing out again…

For about 5 minutes.

My phone rang. I slowly opened my eyes to check who it was.

Rei Yuya, a buddy of mine from the industry. I answered the phone, answering the call with a groan.

“Good morning to you too, Kris,” Yuya replied, laughing. She had a sweet, lower-pitched voice. I couldn’t help but find comfort in it when times got rough.

“Huh…? Ain’t it like…sixamforya?” I mumbled, attempting to get a coherent word out.

Yuya laughed as she knew my struggle. “I told you I’d start waking your ass up earlier. Did you get enough sleep?”

“Of course… Mom.”

“When did you sleep last night?”

I wanted to lie, but my brain hurt too much to make one good enough for her. “Three.”

She sighed, her disappointment clear over the phone. “Come on, you gotta get more sleep.”

“Rei…” I started to defend myself, sitting up, and rubbing my face. “This shitty fucking job got me up at the asscrack of dawn. I like my nights, man.”

Rei slowed down her talking, speaking to me like a mother. “Look, I get it. I know you’re used to working nights, but everything is shut down right now, and we need normal jobs. And normal jobs have morning shifts.”

I sighed. “Yeah. I know. Even Cali got things shut down?”

“Yup. Fuckin’ sucks, but we do what we can. Got a work-from-home job as some project organizer at a firm.”

“Putting that degree to good use, eh?”

“Mhm!” She shifted her attention to me, soon. “How’s Minnesota?”

“Cold,” I said plainly.

“Oh yeah, I don’t envy you at all. When you plan on moving back?”

“Soon,” I answered. “I thought that things would go back to normal, but MMW is still shut down, and I need the money to move back. Fuck, man.”

“I wish I could help Kris. I’m so sorry. You’re gonna spend Christmas up there alone too…”

I attempted to lighten the mood by laughing and perking up my voice. “It’s cool. Hulwater looks beautiful in the winter anyways…”

“Wait!” Yuya said, excited suddenly. “Idea time!”

I scoffed. When she said that, I knew she was up to no good. “What?”

“You’d have to wait till I get everything together. Bye, Kris!” She hung up, leaving me staring at the phone in confusion. Christmas was a week out, so I couldn’t think what she could possibly plan. Then again, It was Yuya. She was always quick on her feet, resourceful, and smart. She was admittedly a more accomplished wrestler than I, with her big matches in TJPW and Stardom, She moved like a star in her motherland. It was a blessing I even had her back then. I was a fuck up in my late 20s, and still had little mental capacity to show for it.

I had to get ready for work, however. I looked in the mirror as I brushed my teeth. My curly black hair was as unkempt as it usually is, my brown eyes still existed, the stubble attached to my brown skin was rugged, and my chest hair was plentiful leading down my body. I was too lazy to shave, and honestly, I thought I looked much hotter with the hair. I got my work polo and blue jeans on, with companying winter accessories like my boots, beanie, and coat. I headed outside, breathing out the frigid air before heading into my beat-up 2005 Honda Accord where my training gear rested.

Time for work.