Amali POV

"Okay, Miss Stryker. So far I'm very happy with the healing. We can then schedule your physical therapy next week. I have written down exactly what will be done on this plan and the therapist will explain everything to you in detail.

We will see you again in two weeks to see how you are doing. But if you have more severe pain, please report it immediately. And please remember that you should still wear the sling outside of the exercises," the doctor explained to me in a friendly manner.

However, my mood was so bad at the moment that none of this could cheer me up. Especially not with the weekend coming up.

Half an hour later, I was sitting in the car with Mom and she drove me to my apartment. I could feel her giving me side glances again and again. Every now and then she tried to get me to talk. But all she got were one-word answers.

Or at least that was the case until she asked me the next question. A question we had already discussed several times.

"Are you sure you can be alone? Don't you want to come back to us after all?" she wanted to know.

"Mom, I love you. But after 8 weeks, I really need a break from you. It's just this weekend. Please give me that. All I want is some peace and quiet in my own space. Maybe I'll be able to clear my head there." I explained for what felt like the twentieth time.

"But sweetheart... You can't even make yourself a sandwich," she said gently.

"I know that. But I'm an adult with a credit card and access to a phone and the internet. I will order myself food. Actually, I can order anything I want. We're in New York City for fuck's sake," I replied.

"Watch what you say, young lady," she warned me.

"Or what? Mom, stop treating me like a child. In case you haven't noticed... I'm over 30, I can swear if I want to. What are you going to do about it? Ground me? I appreciate what you and Dad do for me. But it's no reason to treat me like a baby," I said.

She didn't say anything in response. I knew she meant well. But at some point I just couldn't take it anymore. She hadn't even tried to coddle me like that as a child.

*****

A day later, I was sitting on the couch in my apartment, poking at my pasta while watching Wrestlemania. It hurt to see everyone like that, but I still didn't want to miss it. After all, many of them were my friends and I was proud of them.

Though that didn't go for Sasha and the main event. That was my spot! I was supposed to have this big moment and not her. Of all people, it had to be her. That fact somehow hurt more than all the pain of the last weeks.

They are showing all the video packages with the clips that led up to this moment. And of course, they also had to show how she had managed to get the title in the first place.

The entrance was about to start when my phone rang. I carefully put the food on the table, muted the sound on the TV and grabbed it. It was a video call. I sighed deeply as I debated whether to answer it or not.

"Hi, Roman..." I said quietly as he appeared on my screen.

"Hi, Amali. How are you, baby girl?" he asked.

"I've been better before. I can start physical therapy next week. I guess your timing has a reason?" I replied.

"Oh that's good news. And yes... you got me. I thought I'd distract you a bit. You cut your hair? It's so short." he babbled on.

"Yeah... My mom did it. She's a hairdresser. It's easier this way, you know? I see you've already swapped your suit from earlier for something more comfortable. Too bad... It looked really damn good." I replied.

"Thanks, baby girl. And you look damn good too. I like it. And I can't wait to see it in person." he said with a little smirk.

"Always so charming. It'll take a while though, I'm afraid. If I can come back at all. They are still not sure." I replied quietly and dejectedly.

"Oh, believe me, you will. You have to think positively, Amali. I, for one, am absolutely sure that you will come back and even better than before," Roman told me.

"You're always such a role model for positivity. Maybe we should put you in the New Day." I laughed.

It felt good to laugh a little. I hadn't had much to laugh about recently. Quite the opposite, actually. Tears were almost my daily companion.

"Yeah...no... I'm still right though. Tell me... Have you changed your mind?" he wanted to know.

Of course I knew immediately what he meant. After all, he had asked me this question every time we spoke on the phone.

"Nope... And I probably won't. I just... I just need to concentrate on me. And seeing you... I don't know if that would make it easier for me." I said as tears welled up in my eyes again.

"Hey... Amali baby... please don't cry. Everything will be fine. I promise. And I can't wait for you to surprise us all with your next chapter." he replied gently.

I knew by the sound of his voice that he would have loved to pull me into a bone-crushing hug. And man... I was craving such a gesture.

"So you want to be surprised, huh?" I asked.