I think I am now finally beginning to understand what happened all those years ago. Before I ever stepped into a wrestling ring, long before I ever dyed my hair. Back to when I was still my mother's baby boy. When I was the baby, pure and innocent. Yep that was me, little Jeffery Nero Hardy, only four years old and I had to grow up.

It all happened one morning, when I woke up after I heard Daddy's car start and drive quickly down the street. As long as I live I will never forget that sound.

I got up out of my bed and walked over to Matt's bed. I jumped up onto the bed, Matt wasn't there, I think that when I started to worry; Matt was never up this early. It was still dark outside.

I sat on his bed for a few seconds, before I crawled off. I walked over to my bed and grabbed my blankie. I walked out of our room, dragging my blankie behind me as I went down the stairs. I had to hold onto the railing going down the stairs; I hadn't yet mastered the technique of running down the steps, like Matt does it.

Speaking of Matt, I finally found him, sitting on our couch watching "Scooby Doo". I felt a little better when I saw him laugh.

My Aunt Joanie came into the living room and immediately walked over to me and gave me a big hug and a kiss. I hug her back, Aunt Joanie always said that I gave great hugs. Suddenly Matt turned around, his eyes were bloodshot and his cheeks were bright red. Aunt Joanie picked me up and put me on the couch next to Matt. She told us if we needed her she would be in the kitchen.

I didn't understand why Aunt Joanie was here. She usually only comes to visit on holidays, so I was a little disappointed when she didn't have a present for me. I look over to Matt to ask him why Aunt Joanie was here. He didn't answer my question. He just told me to be a good boy and watch Scooby Doo. I did what Matt said because he is my big brother so the things he says must be right. Mattie didn't move the entire time we watched Scooby Doo, I don't even think he was watching it. When they found out who the monster was, he didn't even cheer. I tried to talk to him, but I guess he wasn't in the mood to talk.

Then the phone rang from inside the kitchen; Matt's eyes shot right to the phone. Aunt Joanie picked up the phone. It must not have been a good conversation. She didn't talk much. She said Oh My God a lot. She hung up the phone and walked into the living room. She was crying, Matt looked into her eyes and without words exchanged between the two of them, he started to cry. He got off the couch and ran over to her. She knelt down and picked up his six-year-old body and they cried for a long time. I didn't know why, but Momma always said it was better to cry, so I didn't stop them.

She walked over to me and I held my arms out. She picked me up and I clung to her neck for what seemed like hours. She hummed softly to try to get Mattie calm down. She took us upstairs and changed us into our church clothes. Matt cried the whole time she dressed him and combed his hair. Matt rubbed his eyes, which were bright red. He sat on his bed and tried to tie his shoes, while Aunt Joanie dressed me. I didn't know why we had to wear this. I knew it wasn't Sunday. I had a lot of questions, but I didn't ask any of them. Thinking back I wish I did...

Aunt Joanie got herself ready and we got in her car and drove off. I didn't know where we were going and I couldn't see out of the window. It was the longest car ride I was ever on; it felt even longer than when we went to grandma's house. Mattie and Aunt Joanie were quiet. I guess they were tired from all the crying they did. When the car stopped I realized where we were. The hospital. I knew this because I had to go there a week ago when I cut my arm playing outside. Mommy took me there to get stitches, but why were we here now?


Nex Part