Page 141 of Pure Silence

GOLDIE

Three months later…

“Great counter by Goldie! Oh! Look! It’s the Honey Pot, ladies and gentlemen! It’s the Honey Pot! That’s it! That’s it right here!” the announcer screamed triumphantly as Goldie pinned his opponent in the ring with his signature hold. “Goldilocks has got him right where he wants him! It’s over!”

“One! Two! Three!” the crowd screamed in time with the pounding of the referee’s hand against the mat, calling the count for the pin.

The bell rang.

“Here is your winner of the Ballroom Blitz Heavyweight Match!” the announcer declared. “The Great and Glorious Goldilocks!”

Goldie rose with a triumphant shout, covered in sweat and glistening beneath the spotlights. He could hardly see the crowd because of the blinding glare, but he could hear them. He was totally exhausted, his back was killing him, and his right knee was throbbing. He pumped his fist into the air, and he let the roar of the audience wash over him and ring in his ears.

He’d done it.

He’d won a match for the first time in twelve years.

* * *

Winter had come and gone, and spring was finally returning.

Gone was the awful snowy slush and freezing winds, and Goldie eagerly welcomed the rising temperatures and being able to put away his thick coats and scarves. After what would quite possibly be the most insane winter of his entire life, he was grateful for the warmer season to arrive. Spring was a time of rebirth and new beginnings, and Goldie was ready.

Alvarez had placed Florence under arrest at the hospital, and the story exploded all over the news by the next morning. With Goldie’s already newfound popularity on the rise, the insane tale of betrayal and attempted murder went national.

Florence survived, and his trial was scheduled for that summer.

His defense attorney initially claimed that Day and Goldie attacked him first and he was only acting out of self-defense, but then screenshots from Florence’s phone were leaked. They included notes from a writing app for how Florence planned to write his article about Goldie and Day’s murder suicide.

Goldie nor Day ever heard a peep from any other criminals associated with Michael Parker or Lionel Graham. Goldie couldn’t say for sure, but he felt confident they had decided it was best for their health to stay as far away as possible from Day Hanley.

The autopsy findings for Day’s father revealed he’d died of natural causes, and Day was able to finally put him back to rest. He picked a cemetery just outside the city with plenty of trees and buried him there in a small private ceremony. It had only been Day, Goldie, the funeral home staff, and the priest, and Day didn’t shed a single tear.

After all, he still talked to his father every day.

Detective Alvarez put in for an early retirement. Goldie and Day spoke with him a few times as Florence’s case was preparing to go to trial, and Alvarez revealed he had decided he’d had enough of law enforcement for a lifetime. Goldie couldn’t blame him, though he did wonder if Alvarez ever got around to confessing his sensual feelings to his partner.

Day offered to ask him about it, and Goldie declined.

Some things were better left unsaid.

Goldie took Global Wrestling’s offer to headline the Ballroom Blitz in what was an incredible and very well-received return to the ring. He used his time back in the spotlight to announce his wrestling memorabilia being sent to auction to raise money for several charities in the city—except for any item related to theStaraxtrilogy, of course.

Day wanted to keep those.

They raised millions, and they donated a very large portion to the city animal rescue for a new building and dedicated it in Evan’s memory. The rest went to the youth shelter, soup kitchen, and a few other places in the local area.

After the success of his match at the Ballroom Blitz and the publicity from the auction, Global Wrestling offered Goldie a full-time position as a commentator and his very own pre-show, but he declined.

Getting one more taste of wrestling had been enough, though Goldie teased that perhaps he’d be back at the Blitz next year.

He was happy to return to his quiet life, working at the gym, and coming home to his boyfriend and their two cats.

Once the apartment had been emptied of its wrestling memorabilia, Goldie and Day got busy redecorating. They bought prints of paintings they’d both liked at the city museum, took pictures of their cats and printed them out to arrange in collages, and an originalStaraxmovie poster got a place of honor in the living room above the TV.

For the first time, Goldie didn’t think of his apartment as a tomb.

It felt like a home now.