A New Hope

Part 1: The Girl

Hope Solo's P.O.V.

Through the noise of the rain hitting the windows, I hear it: the clanging of my trash bins outside. Dammit, they're at it again. I thought. Why can't they leave me alone? It was most likely a gang of street boys causing the clanging. They found it amusing to mess with me, and often did so by setting my trash bins on fire. I grabbed my pocket knife and flipped it open as I went outside. To my surprise, it wasn't the street boys. It was a girl, small and narrow built, with long, jet black hair streaked with crimson, tan skin, green eyes, and freckles. She was holding the lid to one of my trash bins in her hand. "Look, kid." I said. "I don't know what you've got up your panties, but if you don't put the lid back on that trash can and get off my property now, I will attack you." The girl replaced the trash can lid and backed up, her hands in the air, but she didn't leave. "Well?" I growled. "What are you waiting for? Leave!" "Please, miss." the girl said. "I'm not trying to cause trouble, I'm just really hungry. I have nothing, no food, no money, no family, and no home. I'm cold, wet, and tired, and I just need a place to live." Something inside me shattered as I took in the sight of this girl. She was painfully thin, and she looked like she hadn't eaten or showered in weeks. "Come in, then." I said gruffly. Her green eyes widened. "Really?" She asked. "Yeah." I said. She came into the house and stood dripping on my doormat. "Wait here." I told her. I ran upstairs and grabbed one of my shirts, a pair of boxers, and a sweatshirt. "Here." I said, giving the clothes to the girl. "Get changed. There's a bathroom down the hall. I'll get some food for you." As she walked to the bathroom, I went into the kitchen and warmed up half a loaf of bread. The girl looked like she needed it. The girl came out of the bathroom wearing the clothes I'd given her. They were way too big for her, but that wasn't surprising. "Sit down and eat." I said. She sat down and started eating really fast. "Woah, kid." I said. "Slow down. You're going to choke. How long has it been since you had a proper meal?" The girl swallowed a mouthful of bread. "Define 'proper meal'." She said. "How long has it been since you were full?" I asked. "Five years." She said. "You're kidding." I said. The girl shook her head. "I wish I were." She said. "You've got a lot of explaining to do, kid." I said. "But I'll let you finish eating first."