Phoenix

Tony POV - Chapter 3

Tony

When I found Seraphina six years ago, she was an incredibly angry and broken young girl. I used to see her hanging around the underground fighting scene always watching and learning. She was living off the streets at the time living in abandoned houses, and she was thin as a stick. I knew that she was not eating very much you could tell by her malnourished appearance. I saw her one night as she was watching the fight, I walked over standing next to her, I asked her if she was hungry?

She looked at me and she said no, and she turned to watch the fight. I put my hand on her shoulder and she gripped my hand and she flipped me over.

I was not expecting her to do this considering she was small, thin, and appeared weak looking. But I should have known better than to judge a book by its cover. I looked up and she can tell that I was surprised, I laughed, and I told her damn you are a quick kid and tough.

She reached down and gave me her hand.

I took it and I told her with the right training she can be better.

"She looked at me and said what do you mean"?

I told her that I am a coach and I train some of these fighters that you are watching.

She looked at me like she was skeptical of what I was saying.

I told her if she wants to learn more then come and talk to me at the gym and I gave her my card. I asked her again if she was hungry and she put her head down like she was fighting her personal thoughts.

She looked up and she nodded her head.

I told her to come on then and I took her to a burger joint and I told her to order whatever she wants. For her being a small girl man, she could put away food like no one's business. I asked her where she came from, and she shut down and I could tell that it would be extremely hard for her to trust anyone. I asked her how long she has been on the streets, and

"She said two years now and that she has been staying in abandoned houses".

I told her that I have an extra room if she wants it and

"She said I don't have any money".

I told her don't worry about it and she was weary of my wanting to help her out. I don't blame her because this city can be pretty fucked up. I told her that the extra room is at the gym, and it is locked up during the nights.

She said OKAY that would be cool, and she would check it out.

I gave her some money so that she could get her things that she needed for herself.

She didn't want to take it at first, but I told her that I insist that she takes it. She said thank you and I told her that my name is Tony.

She said that her name is Seraphina, then thanked me for helping her out. She was rough around the edges but inside her heart still managed to be soft.

These streets can either make you are break you and thankfully it did not break her.

I took her to the gym and showed her the room and she was happy with it, there was a refrigerator with some food and drinks in there so she should be good. I showed her the locker room that also had showers in there.

She had a big smile when I turned to look at her and I could tell that she was happy.

This reminded me that it is the little things that matter most, and I am glad that I could make her happy. It took Seraphina at least a year to confide in me, but when you have serious trust issues like she does then whatever you do, don't ever lose her trust. I love this kid like she is my own daughter, and I would protect her with my life.