Who Can I Run To? Part 1 and Part 2
Jey never imagined Takecia would mention divorce. They'd been together since they were fourteen, raising two sons. Now, his world felt upside down. He remembered her slippers by the kitchen door, always there, no matter how much he teased her. That faded blue terrycloth, shaped to her feet, was as familiar as his own reflection. When she cooked, she would hum R&B songs and snap her fingers to the beat. The smell of sweet onions filled the house, bringing back memories. He thought of their first meeting, when Takecia almost spilled her drink and laughed, her cheeks bright as sunrise. Now, that memory stung. Even their silly arguments about sweet tea or sticky notes echoed in his mind. Everything around him reminded him of a life that once fit together so well.
Jey's mind filled with memories as his thoughts raced. How did things get so bad? Was it something he said, or what he didn't say? He remembered coming home late, telling himself it was for the family, but now he wondered if he was just avoiding problems he couldn’t fix. Guilt crept in. How many times had he brushed off her complaints as nagging instead of seeing them as calls for help? Maybe he focused too much on work, hoping it would make up for the warmth he'd lost. Looking at an old photo of the four of them smiling, he wondered if he truly valued what he had before it was gone. He blamed himself for missing the quiet in the kitchen and for her laughter fading. Their laughter and dreams now felt far away, making his pain and regret even heavier.
“What do you mean by divorce?” Jey asked
"Jey, I want a divorce. I’m done. I raised the boys, ran this house, and now I’m invisible. We barely even speak."
She stayed up waiting for him, her anger slowly turning into a deep, tired silence that only a mother understands. Each tick of the clock grew louder. Most nights, after quietly walking the boys to bed and closing their doors, she wandered through the dim house, feeling like a shadow. The TV was just background noise. The house felt too big, as if she were lost inside it, with echoes growing emptier every day. She would rest her hand on the kitchen counter to steady herself and stare at the untouched mug of tea she had made for Jey, hoping he’d come home. She remembered their laughter in the kitchen, the inside jokes, glances, and the boys playing underfoot. Now, that memory hurts, like biting your tongue during a favorite song. Loneliness wasn’t just being alone; it was feeling invisible, her care fading into the background of daily life. Folding his shirts and listening for his car became reminders that she was waiting to be noticed, but Jey never looked. By sunrise, the ache in her chest grew deeper. She wanted to be seen, even as disappointment kept her quiet. She took a deep breath and gripped the edge of the couch, struggling with frustration and exhaustion.
"That’s just it. You’re never here. Always working. I’m worn out, Jey."
Jey stared at the family photos. At first, shock froze him, and disbelief quickly turned into numbness, heavy in his chest. As he tried to process the news, dread spread and tightened as he looked at the smiling faces on the wall. Had he missed the signs? Waves of regret and fear closed in, each new feeling pushing the last aside. The room seemed to shrink, and breathing got harder as his emotions tumbled: first shock, then anxiety, then a deep pain.
Jey nodded and packed for his house show in Tampa. Everything felt heavy. In the car, he looked at his wedding ring, which now felt like a weight instead of a symbol.
“I’ll be back Tuesday,” Jey said.
Takecia looked up and nodded, her eyes meeting Jey’s for a moment, showing both sadness and acceptance. Jey left, feeling the humid air press in on him. As he put his suitcase in the car and sat behind the wheel, he felt empty and disconnected.
As he drove away, Jey felt empty and full of regret. He thought about all the moments with family he had missed. The pain was severe, but he still held hope that things could change.
While driving, Jey thought about what Takecia had said. He realized that focusing on work had hurt his family. Sadness slowly turned into a determination to fight for them.
His thoughts were interrupted when his phone rang; it was his brother Jonathan.
“You want dinner or what?” Jon pressed.
"We've got chicken. Sound good?" Jon asked.
"Chicken’s fine," Jey said, slowing for traffic.
Jey sighed. His chest tightened; anxiety, shame, and resignation tangled inside him. His voice quavered. He felt alone, more isolated than ever. Yet part of him still wanted to open up.
“Alright. Drive safe. See you soon,” Jon said.
“Yeah,” Jey said, voice dull.
Jey ended the call and drove. The rest of the drive was quiet, his mind racing. Around 9 pm, he parked at Jon and Trin’s, took a deep breath, grabbed his bag, and rang the doorbell.
When the door opened, Trin greeted Jey with a warm smile, her pregnant belly noticeably protruding.
“Hey, sole,” Trinity greeted, hugging him at the door.
Jey hugged Trinity and followed her down the hall.
Jonathan came out of the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel, and greeted his brother with a nod and a smile.
"Let’s eat," Jonathan said, clapping his hands together.
At the table, Trinity noticed Jey’s slumped shoulders and sad expression. He wasn’t his usual cheerful self. His empty eyes and worried look made it clear he was struggling. Trinity’s concern shifted from confusion to empathy as she wondered how to reach him, sensing pain behind his silence.
Jey looked up from his food, “Takecia wants a divorce...”
"We’re here for you, man. Whatever you need," Jon said, pulling Jey into a hug.
"Thanks," Jey muttered, staring at the glass.
Later, Jey lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. Moonlight traced a line above him. Anxiety tightened in his chest with each shallow breath, and he pressed a hand to his ribs, searching for comfort. Worry for Jayce and Jaciyah grew, and he feared losing the boys, too. Grief mixed with anger at himself, regret weighing him down as the night grew darker. He rolled over, trying to block out the silence, but a small hope flickered. Old promises mixed with determination and pain. Exhaustion finally dulled the storm and led him to restless sleep, dreams filled with laughter and stubborn hope.
When he got home, he found Takecia on the couch, watching TV. The pain on her face was clear. Her eyes looked hollow. She barely looked at him, and sadness showed in every glance.
"Hey," Jey said in the doorway, voice small.
"Hey," Takecia replied, not looking up.
After a moment, Jey sighed and went to the bedroom. Dread and sadness pounded his heart. On the dresser sat an envelope with his name on it—divorce papers. Memories and regret crashed in. The loss sliced him, sharp and almost unbearable.
Takecia stared at the TV, memories coming back. At first, happier times surfaced, briefly soothing her. Then frustration and bitterness returned, still raw and unresolved. Wanting to feel close to someone again, she thought about starting over, feeling both relief and fear. As disappointment faded, a slow hope for happiness took its place as she pictured a different future.
They used to stay up late on Fridays, drinking sweet tea and talking, their voices blending with the quiet. Now, the living room felt empty. Sometimes Jey came home after midnight to find Takecia asleep on the couch, her tea cold and forgotten.
One morning, after one of those nights, she hurried past him, eyes fixed ahead as she made the boys’ lunches, moving quickly and silently. The days blurred together. While the kids argued upstairs, Jey noticed a sticky note on the fridge—just a grocery list, no more heart-shaped reminders or inside jokes. That evening, dirty dishes filled the sink. Takecia washed them alone, her back to Jey. He tried to joke, hoping to lighten the mood, but her reply was barely more than a tired sigh.
Missed dinners and short goodnights became routine. They spoke less. Heavy silences and quick arguments over bills and chores took over. Easy laughter vanished. Now, they rarely made eye contact. Over time, their home felt too big for just two. Each room echoed with loneliness.
Even so, Takecia still had doubts. Tears stung her eyes as she pictured Jey laughing with the boys. The thought made her hesitate—fear warred with her longing for happiness. Biting her lip, she searched for courage, wishing happiness for both of them, even if that meant letting go.
Jey inhaled a deep breath, squared his shoulders, and walked back into the living room with the papers in his hand. As he passed through the living room, he met Takecia’s gaze, exhaling slowly as he stopped briefly near her.
"Got the papers. My lawyer will handle it," Jey said, his voice flat.
"Okay," Takecia said, eyes fixed on the TV.
Jey looked at Takecia, his face showing confusion and regret. He felt how far they had come from their old happiness to the sadness in the room now. Seeing the family photos reminded him of his promise to be there for his sons. He set his jaw and got ready to leave for his lawyer's office. Jey entered his lawyer’s office, feeling defeated. Phil, sympathetic, greeted him.
“What brings you in?” Phil asked.
"Takecia wants a divorce. These are the papers. I need you to check them," Jey said.
“Let me see,” Phil said, taking the envelope.
Jey watched as Phil sat behind his desk and started reading the papers. He shook his head.
"Pretty simple," Phil said. "She wants the house and $5,000 a month for Jayce."
"Should I just sign now?" Jey asked.
"The sooner you sign, the sooner it’s over," Phil said, sliding the papers across.
After speaking with Phil, Jey returned home, nerves twisting in his stomach. He noticed Jaciyah’s car in the driveway. Inside, his sons sat tensely with their mother. Jayce’s wide, frightened eyes found Jey, and he ran for a desperate hug. Jaciyah’s quiet embrace was stiff, his expression shadowed with worry. Jey sensed the gravity of the situation written on their faces. Unsure how to begin, he cleared his throat, sat on the love seat, and waited in silence until Takecia spoke.
"I’m happy that my babies are together. Your dad and I have some news to share. We have decided that it was time to get a divorce," Takecia said as she watched the boys' reactions.
"We decided? No.. You decided and gave me no choice," Jey thought to himself.
Jaciyah looked at his parents, helplessness clouding his face. Not knowing what to say, he got up and walked quietly to his bedroom, shoulders slumped. Jayce, confused and hurt, sat frozen on the couch, jaw trembling as he tried to hold back tears.
“Jeyce, you okay, son?” Jey asked.
Jayce sat on the couch, visibly confused and hurt by everything happening. He fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. After a few silent moments, he looked at his dad, eyes shining with sadness and anger. 'Why did things change so much?' he asked quietly. 'I thought we would all stay together forever.'
Jayce got up from the couch, moving slowly as if the situation was too heavy. He watched as his youngest son disappeared from the room, his heart twisting with guilt. He turned to face Takecia, eyes misty with loss and uncertainty about what to say next. He wanted to make sense of everything.
Jey watched his youngest son disappear from the room, then turned to face Takecia.
“My lawyer reviewed the papers. Everything is straightforward and signed. I want to move forward. Since you are keeping the house, I will move into the downtown rental,” Jey said, handing Takecia the envelope.
Takecia exhaled as Jey went upstairs. He stopped at Jaciyah’s door, knocked, and entered when his son stepped aside.
“Son, I know this whole divorce thing caught you off guard. Hell, it caught me off guard, too. But know I love you, and I will always be here for you.” Jey said as he sat down in the computer chair.
“I know, it's just I saw you and mom as being together forever,” Jaciyah said.
“I know, but people grow apart. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop loving your mom.” Jey said.
“Well, I’m going to need your help... How long are you going to be home?” Jey asked.
“I’ll be home for a week,” Jaciyah said.
Surrounded by reminders of his life with Takecia and the boys, Jey felt his chest tighten, and his head grow heavy. As he made a mental list of what to pack for his new apartment, each item brought back more memories and sadness.
Jey went into the bathroom and turned on the shower. Steam filled the room, and his reflection blurred in the mirror. The smell of cedar and mint was familiar. He felt sadness, grief, guilt, and even a bit of relief. Leaning against the cool tiles, he let himself feel his anger and despair. In that quiet moment, he let himself feel it all.
Over the next few days, Jey and the boys packed his things and moved them downtown. Jimmy and Naomi helped unpack.
“Damn, brother, it’s really all happening,” Jimmy said.
“Yeah, it’s happening...” Jey said as he unpacked a box.
Trinity arrived with groceries and household items Jey would need. She set the bags in the kitchen and turned to her brother-in-law.
“You know you didn’t have to do all of that,” Jey said as he walked to the other side of the kitchen.
“I know.. But I wanted to. Help ease your stress.” Trin said.
Later that night, after everyone had left, Jey lay in bed thinking about how much his life had changed. He used to be a married man working for his family, but now he is divorced and has to split time with his kids.
Jey closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep as he made a vow to make every day a better day from here on out.
A year after the divorce, Jey focused on work and supporting his sons. The locker room felt colder; championship wins tasted hollow without family in the front row. One morning, as he packed his duffel for another road trip, he paused at a school flyer on the fridge: 'Jayce's Science Fair, April 15.'
That Saturday, Jey slipped quietly into the school gym, still in a WWE hoodie, and found Jayce nervously adjusting his project about volcanoes. Jayce's eyes lit up when he saw his father. Jey knelt beside him, listening carefully as Jayce explained every part, asking questions where he didn't understand. When Jayce won third place, Jey cheered the loudest, snapping pictures and telling his son how proud he was.
That evening, at home, both boys gathered around the table, tossing their school stories back and forth. Jey set down his phone. He hadn't looked at it during dinner, not once. When Jaciyah brought up feeling nervous about his future, Jey admitted his fears, telling the boys he was still learning to handle change. The conversation turned honest and raw, all three laughing shyly by the end of it.
Even with his success, Jey sometimes felt empty, especially during quiet mornings on the road or long nights in hotel rooms. He would sit on the edge of a motel bed, wrestling boots on the floor, scrolling through family photos while silence filled the room. Becoming both Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Champion had been his dream, but now each win felt bittersweet because he couldn’t share it with the family that once cheered him on. One evening, after a championship match, the crowd’s noise faded as Jey went to the locker room, breathing hard and cooling off. He looked at his gold title belt, alone, then picked up his phone and hesitated before calling his sons. Jayce answered, sounding surprised and happy. "Did you see the match?" Jey asked, forcing a smile. " Won!" Jayce cheered, but the excitement dimmed a little. "Are you coming to my game Saturday?"
Jey's chest tightened. "I’ll do everything I can, son. I promise."
Wrestling became more than a job; it helped him work through his regret, guilt, and hope, turning pain into strength. Over time, he tried to forgive himself for the time he lost at home and the hurt he caused Takecia. There were days when he would drive straight from an overnight flight to the bleachers at Jayce’s soccer game, still stiff from the last match, clutching a coffee he barely tasted. He watched Jayce score a goal, caught his son's glance in the crowd, and felt a pinch of pride and longing mix together.
He found himself calling his sons more often, asking about their days, apologizing when he messed up, and showing up—even when he was tired—for their games and school events. One night, after dinner at the new apartment, Jaciyah opened up about missing how things used to be. Jey admitted, quietly, "I miss it too, but I’m here now. I'm always going to be here."
Over time, Jey learned to talk to his sons about his feelings. He listened more, reached out even when it was difficult, and tried to be present in ways he hadn’t before. Because of this, his bond with his sons grew, and some of his anger and shame faded. It wasn’t easy, but Jey found a fragile peace as he rebuilt his life, step by step.
One Saturday, Jey rushed from training to Jayce’s soccer game, still in his workout clothes. Jayce lit up with joy when he saw his father. Jey’s support energized Jayce, who scored the winning goal. As Jayce celebrated, Jey realized these moments mattered most. Despite his busy career, being present for his sons was what truly counted. Balancing wrestling and family has shown his growth since the divorce.
Jey was sitting in his locker room when someone knocked on the door.
“Come in!” Jey yelled from where he was sitting.
The door opened, and Jimmy and Trinity entered. Jey smiled at his brother and sister-in-law, knowing he would not have made it through difficult times without their support and encouragement.
“What’s up, bro?” Jimmy said as he gave Jey a dap.
“Nothing, man, just wrapping my head around this match against Bron,” Jey said.
Trinity came from around Jimmy and gave Jey a hug. Trinity sat down next to Jey as she watched Jimmy pace around the locker room.
“So Trin and I were thinking you should get back into the dating pool...” Jon said, leaning against the counter.
Jey looked at his brother in surprise. Dating wasn’t on his mind. Right now, he just wants to focus on wrestling and being a good father.
Just put yourself out there and see if anything bites.” Jon said
“I’ll think about it...” Jey said.
“Well, Charlotte is hosting her birthday celebration at the club tonight. You should roll through with us.” Jon said.
“Alright, let’s see how I feel after this match,” Jey said as he got up from the couch.
Jey went out, and he and Bron put on a banger match, which Jey won. He spotted Jon and Trin and walked over to them.
“BRO! That was a banger!” Jon said, hugging Jey.
“Thanks.. What time are y’all going to the club?” Jey asked.
“We are leaving around 11...” Jon said.
“Alright, let’s head back to the spot, so I can get ready. It’s time to celebrate.” Jey said.
Jon nodded. Jey left the arena and went back to his hotel. He took a hot shower, letting the water relax his sore muscles. He wanted to enjoy the night. After showering, he got dressed in his usual black outfit and silver chain. He checked himself in the mirror, smiled, and texted Jon that he was ready. When he got to the lobby, Jon was waiting for him.
“Where’s Trin?” Jey asked.
“She’s tired, so she’s going to sit this one out.
“Oh, alright..” Jey said.
Jon and Jey left the hotel and got into the waiting Uber. On the way to the club, Jey scrolled through Instagram and noticed Charlotte had posted a photo with a beautiful Indian woman. The caption read, “The one who keeps me looking like a million dollars. @Melababy2287”
Jey clicked on the girl’s Instagram handle, but noticed her page was set to private. He decided not to send her a friend request, but he was hoping to see her at the club tonight.
“Josh, you good?” Jon asked
“Oh yeah, I’m good... Just scrolling through IG,” Jey said.
“Oh, alright...” Jon said as the car stopped in front of the club, where the line stretched around the corner. The twins exited and were greeted by security, who led them directly to Charlotte’s VIP section. After greeting everyone, Jey saw the woman from Charlotte’s photo.
“Damn, she’s even more beautiful in person...” Jey thought to himself.
Charlotte watched as Jey stared at Sharmela, and she smiled.
“JEY!” Charlotte yelled over the music.
Jey snapped out of his daze and smiled, “What’s up, Queen?”
“I want you to meet my make-up artist, Sharmela,” Charlotte said as she moved out of the way.
Sharmela looked up from where she was sitting and smiled.
“Hey!” Sharmela said as she sipped on her vodka and cranberry.
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