It's so good to learn that right outside your window
There's only friendly fields and open roads
And you'll sleep better when you think
You've stepped back from the brink
And found some peace inside yourself,
Lay down your heavy load
It gets alright
To dream at night
Believe in solid skies
And slate blue earth below
But when you see Him, you'll know
It's okay to find the faith to saunter forward
There's no fear of shadows spreading where you stand
And you'll breathe easier just knowing that
The worst is all behind you
And the waves that tossed the raft all night
Have set you on dry land
It gets okay
To praise the day
Believe in sheltering skies
And stable earth beneath
But hear His breath come
Through His teeth
Walk by faith
Tell no one what you've seen
It's so good to learn that from right here
The view goes on forever
And you'll never want for comfort,
And you'll never be alone
See the sunset turning red,
Let all be quiet in your head
And look about, all the stars are coming out
They shine like steel swords
Wish me well, where I go
But when you see me,
You'll know
Salem was looking out of his tour bus window, the new day having arrived and brought with it a partly cloudy sky but with plenty of sun and wind to shine and wave at him on his journey. Murphy had been there promptly to pick Salem up the following morning, but a night of brawling and drinking with family meant he'd been slow to rouse himself up, needing a little bit to nurse headaches and bruises. Still, he couldn't help but smile a bit, prodding a loose tooth with his tongue as a voice chirped in over the bus intercom.
"Need to make any stops, boss? Wanna get something for your head or anything?" his driver asked politely.
"No thanks, Murph. Just straight to the arena, thank you." Salem answered from a nearby console.
"You seemed in a pretty good mood when you got on, boss. Feeling better, I take it?"
"Yeah, actually." Salem answered, reaching for a beer from a mini fridge next to his bed, cracking it open. "My family's pretty good with the enlightenment if they don't get you too drunk to remember it."
"Haha, well you certainly didn't look any better, boss. But I'll take your word for it. Just relax, I'll get you there soon as I can."
"Thanks, Murph." Salem answered, cutting off their conversation to look again out into the distance outside his window.
As he watched the scenery passing by, he contemplated what his father had been trying to teach him the night before. The truth was, he did hold himself back. Whether it was because he admired GBL's career or was intimidated by it, whether it was because he was doing it to impress his family or his peers, he had been coming at his goal with the wrong perspective.
After all, GBL wasn't from the moon, he was just a guy. Flashy entrances and poetic musings didn't make him any more or less of a man than Salem was, and whatever experience The Eclipse might have over him, Salem had the heart and talent to overcome it. He knew it before their match, but in the moment when it mattered, he hesitated. He let doubt creep into his mind and in that moment of a crisis of faith, GBL eclipsed him. It wasn't a mistake he planned to make twice.
Chugging his beer, Salem fetched another, as well as a rolled up blunt he'd been saving for after the finals. It was rolled from a 'gift bag' Salem had been sent by a celebrity who was also a big fan and a big smoker, and he'd intended to celebrate his world title win with it following his match. But, he'd not felt like lighting it then, even almost forgetting it as he crashed out in the back of the bus, dreaming of past failures. Now, ******** it. He was going to enjoy himself. No regrets, after all.
Sparking the end, Salem took a long draw, only to begin coughing hard to the point of near convulsion, feeling an immediate head trip that damn near knocked him on his a** and made him fall back into the bed. A worried voice cracked over the speaker.
"Boss, you okay back there?! You need me to pull over and help?!" Murphy asked, Salem feeling the bus starting to shift lanes, or perhaps it was the buzz playing with his coordination. Struggling to reach over for the button, Salem cued the intercom and coughed out a negative, Murphy likely chuckling to himself in the cab as he understood the situation.
Looking up at the ceiling, done up with stars and planets like a child's room if they invested gobs of money into it, Salem smirked and rode out the high, chuckling as his eyes drifted around the constellations and solar systems until he found the Moon, lifting an arm upward and forming a finger gun, taking aim.
"Bang." Salem said to himself, firing the facsimile pistol at the celestial body before dropping his arm, closing his eyes with a satisfied grin.
"Need to make any stops, boss? Wanna get something for your head or anything?" his driver asked politely.
"No thanks, Murph. Just straight to the arena, thank you." Salem answered from a nearby console.
"You seemed in a pretty good mood when you got on, boss. Feeling better, I take it?"
"Yeah, actually." Salem answered, reaching for a beer from a mini fridge next to his bed, cracking it open. "My family's pretty good with the enlightenment if they don't get you too drunk to remember it."
"Haha, well you certainly didn't look any better, boss. But I'll take your word for it. Just relax, I'll get you there soon as I can."
"Thanks, Murph." Salem answered, cutting off their conversation to look again out into the distance outside his window.
As he watched the scenery passing by, he contemplated what his father had been trying to teach him the night before. The truth was, he did hold himself back. Whether it was because he admired GBL's career or was intimidated by it, whether it was because he was doing it to impress his family or his peers, he had been coming at his goal with the wrong perspective.
After all, GBL wasn't from the moon, he was just a guy. Flashy entrances and poetic musings didn't make him any more or less of a man than Salem was, and whatever experience The Eclipse might have over him, Salem had the heart and talent to overcome it. He knew it before their match, but in the moment when it mattered, he hesitated. He let doubt creep into his mind and in that moment of a crisis of faith, GBL eclipsed him. It wasn't a mistake he planned to make twice.
Chugging his beer, Salem fetched another, as well as a rolled up blunt he'd been saving for after the finals. It was rolled from a 'gift bag' Salem had been sent by a celebrity who was also a big fan and a big smoker, and he'd intended to celebrate his world title win with it following his match. But, he'd not felt like lighting it then, even almost forgetting it as he crashed out in the back of the bus, dreaming of past failures. Now, ******** it. He was going to enjoy himself. No regrets, after all.
Sparking the end, Salem took a long draw, only to begin coughing hard to the point of near convulsion, feeling an immediate head trip that damn near knocked him on his a** and made him fall back into the bed. A worried voice cracked over the speaker.
"Boss, you okay back there?! You need me to pull over and help?!" Murphy asked, Salem feeling the bus starting to shift lanes, or perhaps it was the buzz playing with his coordination. Struggling to reach over for the button, Salem cued the intercom and coughed out a negative, Murphy likely chuckling to himself in the cab as he understood the situation.
Looking up at the ceiling, done up with stars and planets like a child's room if they invested gobs of money into it, Salem smirked and rode out the high, chuckling as his eyes drifted around the constellations and solar systems until he found the Moon, lifting an arm upward and forming a finger gun, taking aim.
"Bang." Salem said to himself, firing the facsimile pistol at the celestial body before dropping his arm, closing his eyes with a satisfied grin.
