little bird | a.p

FIFTEEN

Camilla, Benita, and I bounced up and down in our seats. The music in the stadium blared as each fighter walked out to their own songs. Benita and I watched men punch each other as I held my hand over Camilla's eyes when it got too rough for her.

Alex's opponent paced around the octagon, waiting for him to make his entrance. The lights in the stadium dimmed. Benita and I shared an excited glance. The lights faded into a bright green color and chanting blared from the speakers. I immediately got goosebumps as I recognised the song from a traditional Brazilian warriors chant. Since we were front row, we watched the giant screen above us. Alex appeared from the dark tunnel.

My stomach began to rise. A light feeling filled my head as my heart pounded. Alex stopped in place and placed his has as if he was pulling back an invisible bow and arrow, ending it with a loud battle cry. His face returned to its stern look as he made his way up, entering the octagon. He stood in front of us with all of his glory. His face showed with slight age. He looked bigger, stronger and almost scary. His tall stature was impressive. He stood with back to us. My eyes scanned the old dragon tattoos I was so familiar with when we were younger.

The fight soon started. Camilla's grip on my hand never loosened. She flinched every time Alex took a punch. I was on the edge of my seat, almost sitting on the floor by the end of the fight. Alex's opponent took two hits to the face. His body fell limp and he collided with the floor. The crowd erupted. Alex had won.

The two men were brought back into the middle, now with shirts covering their top halves. Alex raised his hands in victory. He didn't smile, though. Camilla watched in awe through her teary eyes. Her pride for her son was gleaming, I wouldn't be surprised if Alex could feel it. He didn't know we were even here, yet.  Alex took the microphone from the announcer.

"I did this for my country.." his voice rang through the building. The crowd roared. "I came to prove that Rio is strong, and my family, I wanted to make them proud!"

Alex was walked back into the tunnel with his crew. We stood up and tried to follow them but were stopped by security.

"Please! We are his family." I pleaded with the security officer in broken English. He gave a look to his partner and he nodded. He waived for us to follow as he escorted us back stage. Camilla walked in front of us, not holding back a bit of her excitement. The man pulled us into a quiet hallway. He knocked on the door and a bigger man opened it. He seemed to speak English.

"Poatan!" The man called behind his shoulder. "Someone is here to see you."

"Who?" It was Alex.

I pushed Camilla through the door, leaving it half way opened. I wanted her to have her moment with Alex without me first.

"Mai!" I hear Alex yell.

I could hear mumbling and a quick shuffle. I knew they had embraced. I waited for about five minutes before I heard Camilla's voice come closer to the door. She opened it and then closed it behind her. She took my hand in hers.

"Go see him." She said. She seemed to appreciate the time alone with him and now she was granting me my own.

I smiled at her and pushed myself through the door. Alex stood in the center of the room. His eyes widened and his jaw dropped slightly.

"Maria.." he breathed.

He stood frozen as I closed the gap between us. He caught me in the air as I jumped to him. One arm wrapping around my waist and the other finding my hair. His head was buried into my shoulder. I could feel a warm dampness pierce my shirt.

"Maria." He said again. His voice wavered.

I reared my head back to look at his face. I wiped the small tear from his cheek with my thumb and hugged him tightly around his neck. I slowly found my feet on the ground. I let go of his neck to look up at him.

"I thought you guys were gone." He said. "I never got any mail.."

My stomach sank. He thought we were dead. I couldn't imagine what that must've felt like.

"Alex, they were holding our mail. I didn't get to see any of your letters until I saw you were coming home."

I looked deeply into his eyes. His dark brown orbs searched my lighter blue ones. He hugged me again.

"Maria, I love you." He said into my neck. "I want you to marry me, please." He pulled away and looked into my eyes again.

"Alex, are you sure?" I asked him.

"I never want to be apart again. Please, Maria. Marry me now and you guys can live with me in the U.S, I will buy you a ring, and a car, and-"

I cut him off with a deep kiss and pulled away. "I will." I said. "I don't want anything from you other than you, Alex."

He smiled and hugged me one last time before pulling away and opening the door to let Camilla and Bernita in the room. I explained to him that Bernita was my new best friend, but I hadn't told him how I met her, yet.

"Paulo," Alex said to his coach. "This is my family. My Mai, Camilla, my..wife, Maria," Alex glanced at me. "And her friend, Benita."

Paulo shook all of our hands. "I am from Brazil as well. I have family there now." He said. "They were not affected." He smiled at us.

I gleamed at Alex as he told his coach about some of his life back in Rio. I couldn't believe he was standing in front of me now.