Post by Daniela Raye-Weathers on Oct 1, 2023 10:28:28 GMT -5
Our scene opens inside Daniela’s bungalow on the LMS compound. We see our stalwart beauty in a deep conversation via FaceTime with her husband Maleek and younger sister Jasmine. The younger of the three is in Japan just having competed in two matches within one night.
Jasmine Raye: Hey big sis! Hey bro!
Maleek Weathers: Hey mini Dani. How’s Japan?
Daniela scoffed at the reference. In her mind, she and Jasmine are nothing alike in terms of wrestling. Yes both Latinas have alter egos (personalities) that manifest themselves once it is time to fight. Both love to play mind games with their unfortunate opponents. Besides that there are no comparisons. Besides Jasmine has the privilege to work with their dad and aunt. She didn’t get that.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: I deeply resent that reference, Mali. Unlike me when I started in the business, she has Papi, her novio Ian and Tia Serai backing her up. I was solo and I still am. So never put us in the same category EVER AGAIN.
The tension was so thick. You can literally taste it; it was that palpable. Jasmine swallowed a sip from her drink, hoping to clear out her throat. She has never seen her big sister in that kind of mood towards her. Her icy blues started to water, her voice trembled.
Jasmine Raye: What did I do wrong?
Maleek looked at his wife’s distressed visage and knew that right off the bat something wasn’t right. She never reacted that violently when it came down to the twins, even during the time that she was their legal guardians. This was Daniela doing what she does best: deflecting.
Maleek Weathers: Amor…what’s the deal? I haven’t seen you act out like this in a long time. You know you can talk to me. Right?
Jasmine nodded in agreement. This was not the Dani she knew. That she grew up admiring. That worried her. She made a mental note to call her parents and twin brother to talk to them about it later.
Jasmine Raye: You can trust us, hermana. Please tell us what is going on. I don’t like seeing you like this. I’m scared.
Maleek Weathers: So am I…
‘This is it..’, Daniela thought to herself, ‘...I’m finally losing it…’. Mid-life crisis? Dementia? Depression? Nope none of tho… well maybe a little of the first and third… Daniela was suffering a full mental break. The first in a very long time. The last one she suffered was after her parents rescued her from her kidnappers at the age of thirteen. Daniela took a deep breath and sighed sadly before wiping away stray tears that she hoped that they didn’t see. She made a promise years ago that she would never let anyone ever see her shed a tear again. Tears were a sign of weakness. She was anything but weak. At least that was what she hoped that people saw. Strength. Power. Intelligence. A master strategist.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: We’ve all been given a choice whether to stay with our current team or switch to the opposite side. Granted I don’t really know too many of my team members (some I’ve heard of/about, most I haven’t asides from having just met them not long ago) but I am pretty content where I am. The few (CJ and Selena) I do know a little about, I am very comfortable with them and we have forged a somewhat safe alliance between the three of us. I have no issues with my team as a whole. Each member has their strengths that aid the team in moving forward. Fortunately aside from the first initial meeting with CJ and Selena, we have had no trust issues thus far. Thankfully we have not seen any signs of anyone looking out only for number one. Each member has shown that they are all about the team.
Another deep sigh.
Daniela Raye-Weathers:We recently just got a new member on the team. Brooke Blakely. She’s Daniel Ramsey’s bae. She seems like a nice enough person. Yet she was voted off because most of her former team didn’t like her. I guess she didn’t like them either because she just took the vote with no reaction at all. That in itself raises a lot of questions like exactly why don’t they like her? Is it something she may have said or done to any of them? I have a strong suspicion that their hatred of her goes beyond any fed promos or show matches. Why would they just get rid of her at the beginning of the competition and trade her to our team? Why would she just accept it that easily? Is she a spy for the Blue team, sent to sabotage our chances? A lot of unanswered questions.
I just feel like most of the team and the other team as well only see me as a pretty face with tits and ass. I am so much more than that. I am a wife, a mother, a fighter, a football player, a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a niece, a businesswoman. Sure I flaunt my body on occasion. Does that make me a bimbo? An airhead? I’ve attended and graduated college with honors. Opened several clubs, jewelry stores, and non profit organizations. I gave to charity quite often and started several. Yet all people see are my looks. My body. I am beyond tired of the airhead comments that I hear people whispering whenever I am around. I am not dumb. This competition is my way to prove that I am more than what their eyes see.
Daniela’s body visibly shivered as she let out another sad sigh. Will anyone ever see her for who she is, not how she looks?
Daniela Raye-Weathers: I am tired of being viewed as just another pretty girl. So many people take me for granted but something feels different…real… with CJ and Selena. Despite trying to hit on me during our initial meeting, CJ showed he was a standup person. He admitted he made a mistake. I don’t know many people would do that, myself included most of the time. Selena is a cool chick. We became friends almost immediately. She is really down to earth and seems like she has it all together. She reminded me of Mom. I wish I knew more people like them. I will never understand why it is hard for me to make like minded friends.. Facts that still elude me to this very day. Both CJ and Selena were willing to show their true selves to me. Something that I thought that I do as well but yet people refuse to look past my body to get to know the real Daniela. They see my face but don’t know what’s in my heart. In my mind. In my soul. That is truly frustrating and hurtful. No one sees the pain that caused me over the years. That it still causes to this day.
Try as she might, the tears kept falling unchecked. Her voice audibly shaking and breaking, Daniela finally let the walls down. A side of her that no one other than her daughters really know is being shown. Vulnerability. Openness. A shattered woman. A broken spirit. A human with very little left to lose. And you know what they say about people with nothing else to lose. That is when they are at their most dangerous. When they are most desperate.
Maleek Weathers: Mi esposa, why have you kept all of that inside you? You are a lot stronger than even you know or realize. Most people would have cracked or ended it all trying to carry even a fraction of the pain you just told us about. Do you realize that? With that kind of strength, you can accomplish anything you put your hands to do. Never sell yourself short like that again. You are beautiful, yes. But you are also a source of inspiration for many young girls and boys who feel the same way you do.
Jasmine Raye: The only reason I am wrestling is because I wanted to be just like you and Mami. You are my hero, sis. You are my support system. You are not alone in this. Our familia has your back and we all are rooting you on. Think about all the people you are representing: not just our family but our people. We all believe in you. Now believe in yourself. You got this. Even if you don’t win, you still have done more than most would have attempted to do. That in itself is a major accomplishment and nothing to look down upon or feel bad about. You are giving it your all. That is all we ask of you. You don’t have to be Superwoman. Just be Dani. That’s more than enough.
For the first time since their conversation started, we see a smile breaking on Dani’s face. Jasmine’s words made their mark. Now we see a more determined, more focused Daniela Raye-Weathers.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: You’re absolutely right, Jazzy. I…
A knock is heard at the door.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: Looks like it is final decision time. Gotta go y’all. I’ll hit you both up later and let you know how it all goes. Te amo, mi esposo. Te amo, hermana.
The scene fades to black as the family closes down their video call.
Jasmine Raye: Hey big sis! Hey bro!
Maleek Weathers: Hey mini Dani. How’s Japan?
Daniela scoffed at the reference. In her mind, she and Jasmine are nothing alike in terms of wrestling. Yes both Latinas have alter egos (personalities) that manifest themselves once it is time to fight. Both love to play mind games with their unfortunate opponents. Besides that there are no comparisons. Besides Jasmine has the privilege to work with their dad and aunt. She didn’t get that.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: I deeply resent that reference, Mali. Unlike me when I started in the business, she has Papi, her novio Ian and Tia Serai backing her up. I was solo and I still am. So never put us in the same category EVER AGAIN.
The tension was so thick. You can literally taste it; it was that palpable. Jasmine swallowed a sip from her drink, hoping to clear out her throat. She has never seen her big sister in that kind of mood towards her. Her icy blues started to water, her voice trembled.
Jasmine Raye: What did I do wrong?
Maleek looked at his wife’s distressed visage and knew that right off the bat something wasn’t right. She never reacted that violently when it came down to the twins, even during the time that she was their legal guardians. This was Daniela doing what she does best: deflecting.
Maleek Weathers: Amor…what’s the deal? I haven’t seen you act out like this in a long time. You know you can talk to me. Right?
Jasmine nodded in agreement. This was not the Dani she knew. That she grew up admiring. That worried her. She made a mental note to call her parents and twin brother to talk to them about it later.
Jasmine Raye: You can trust us, hermana. Please tell us what is going on. I don’t like seeing you like this. I’m scared.
Maleek Weathers: So am I…
‘This is it..’, Daniela thought to herself, ‘...I’m finally losing it…’. Mid-life crisis? Dementia? Depression? Nope none of tho… well maybe a little of the first and third… Daniela was suffering a full mental break. The first in a very long time. The last one she suffered was after her parents rescued her from her kidnappers at the age of thirteen. Daniela took a deep breath and sighed sadly before wiping away stray tears that she hoped that they didn’t see. She made a promise years ago that she would never let anyone ever see her shed a tear again. Tears were a sign of weakness. She was anything but weak. At least that was what she hoped that people saw. Strength. Power. Intelligence. A master strategist.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: We’ve all been given a choice whether to stay with our current team or switch to the opposite side. Granted I don’t really know too many of my team members (some I’ve heard of/about, most I haven’t asides from having just met them not long ago) but I am pretty content where I am. The few (CJ and Selena) I do know a little about, I am very comfortable with them and we have forged a somewhat safe alliance between the three of us. I have no issues with my team as a whole. Each member has their strengths that aid the team in moving forward. Fortunately aside from the first initial meeting with CJ and Selena, we have had no trust issues thus far. Thankfully we have not seen any signs of anyone looking out only for number one. Each member has shown that they are all about the team.
Another deep sigh.
Daniela Raye-Weathers:We recently just got a new member on the team. Brooke Blakely. She’s Daniel Ramsey’s bae. She seems like a nice enough person. Yet she was voted off because most of her former team didn’t like her. I guess she didn’t like them either because she just took the vote with no reaction at all. That in itself raises a lot of questions like exactly why don’t they like her? Is it something she may have said or done to any of them? I have a strong suspicion that their hatred of her goes beyond any fed promos or show matches. Why would they just get rid of her at the beginning of the competition and trade her to our team? Why would she just accept it that easily? Is she a spy for the Blue team, sent to sabotage our chances? A lot of unanswered questions.
I just feel like most of the team and the other team as well only see me as a pretty face with tits and ass. I am so much more than that. I am a wife, a mother, a fighter, a football player, a sister, a daughter, a cousin, a niece, a businesswoman. Sure I flaunt my body on occasion. Does that make me a bimbo? An airhead? I’ve attended and graduated college with honors. Opened several clubs, jewelry stores, and non profit organizations. I gave to charity quite often and started several. Yet all people see are my looks. My body. I am beyond tired of the airhead comments that I hear people whispering whenever I am around. I am not dumb. This competition is my way to prove that I am more than what their eyes see.
Daniela’s body visibly shivered as she let out another sad sigh. Will anyone ever see her for who she is, not how she looks?
Daniela Raye-Weathers: I am tired of being viewed as just another pretty girl. So many people take me for granted but something feels different…real… with CJ and Selena. Despite trying to hit on me during our initial meeting, CJ showed he was a standup person. He admitted he made a mistake. I don’t know many people would do that, myself included most of the time. Selena is a cool chick. We became friends almost immediately. She is really down to earth and seems like she has it all together. She reminded me of Mom. I wish I knew more people like them. I will never understand why it is hard for me to make like minded friends.. Facts that still elude me to this very day. Both CJ and Selena were willing to show their true selves to me. Something that I thought that I do as well but yet people refuse to look past my body to get to know the real Daniela. They see my face but don’t know what’s in my heart. In my mind. In my soul. That is truly frustrating and hurtful. No one sees the pain that caused me over the years. That it still causes to this day.
Try as she might, the tears kept falling unchecked. Her voice audibly shaking and breaking, Daniela finally let the walls down. A side of her that no one other than her daughters really know is being shown. Vulnerability. Openness. A shattered woman. A broken spirit. A human with very little left to lose. And you know what they say about people with nothing else to lose. That is when they are at their most dangerous. When they are most desperate.
Maleek Weathers: Mi esposa, why have you kept all of that inside you? You are a lot stronger than even you know or realize. Most people would have cracked or ended it all trying to carry even a fraction of the pain you just told us about. Do you realize that? With that kind of strength, you can accomplish anything you put your hands to do. Never sell yourself short like that again. You are beautiful, yes. But you are also a source of inspiration for many young girls and boys who feel the same way you do.
Jasmine Raye: The only reason I am wrestling is because I wanted to be just like you and Mami. You are my hero, sis. You are my support system. You are not alone in this. Our familia has your back and we all are rooting you on. Think about all the people you are representing: not just our family but our people. We all believe in you. Now believe in yourself. You got this. Even if you don’t win, you still have done more than most would have attempted to do. That in itself is a major accomplishment and nothing to look down upon or feel bad about. You are giving it your all. That is all we ask of you. You don’t have to be Superwoman. Just be Dani. That’s more than enough.
For the first time since their conversation started, we see a smile breaking on Dani’s face. Jasmine’s words made their mark. Now we see a more determined, more focused Daniela Raye-Weathers.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: You’re absolutely right, Jazzy. I…
A knock is heard at the door.
Daniela Raye-Weathers: Looks like it is final decision time. Gotta go y’all. I’ll hit you both up later and let you know how it all goes. Te amo, mi esposo. Te amo, hermana.
The scene fades to black as the family closes down their video call.