The Fight Club by P.A. Jones

orphanages in our state."
    "It's a one off. You won't find another one in the state." Tony added.
    I followed him, wondering what he wanted to show me. When we entered the orphanage, many small kids gathered around Tony.
    "Hello, Tony!” they called in a chorus.
    "Hello kids,” he said, grinning. “Are we ready for today's lesson?"
    Lesson? I couldn't guess what he would teach to young kids.
    "Let me get changed, then." He walked into a room, and five minutes later walked back in his gym clothes.
    "What are you going to teach them?" I asked.
    "Martial Arts. I was an orphan, so I had no one to teach me how to fight. I was forced into street fighting by goons,” he told me. “But I don't want these kids to suffer the same. So I'm teaching them self-defense in advance."
    He smiled. He was such a great person. I wish Noah was like him.
    "And why did you bring me here?"
    "I'll be going on tour soon, so I want you to continue teaching these kids in my absence. This job fetches no money, but you’ll feel good after.”
    "I know that. You don't have to give me reasons to do it." I felt good for the first time that day. Black shadows cast by Noah were disappearing by Tony’s good intentions. "I'll do it."
    "Thanks a lot, Julie. I knew you would help me. Now, let me introduce you to the kids."
    We walked inside the play room, where kids were already doing some stretching. Tony introduced me to the crowd, and then we enjoyed teaching them some techniques. I realized that kids have the power to cheer you up, even in your darkest moments.
    Later, my cell rang. My mom's hospital had called me. I picked it up suspiciously. because they never called me without a reason.
    "Hello. Julie here."
    "Miss Julie, we are calling you for your overdue payment. You will need to pay us by this month’s end, or you have to take your mother somewhere else." She cut the phone as soon as she was done.
    My heart sank. How could I forget that I’m obligated to pay for my mother's hospital care? How could I even think of asking Gavin to fire Noah? What if Gavin got angry, and he fires me instead? What would I do then?
    No. I can't go to Gavin. I need to face Noah myself. I can't lose my job.
    My fate bound me to Noah. I had no choice but to continue training him.

Chapter 14
    Julie
    After the phone call, I couldn't stay in the orphanage anymore. I had to visit the cancer care center as soon as possible. I said goodbye to the kids and took a cab to the hospital. Every moment that passed by, I cried harder. My mom was my everything. I couldn't see her in pain. I would do anything to keep her in the care center. She had raised me in difficult circumstances, and now, I was failing to take care of her. My dad passed away when I was very small. Mom did a lot to raise me, and pay for my studies. I owed her my life, and I was failing her miserably.
    The moment the cab stopped, I ran inside and bolted to her room. She looked worse than the last time I saw her, and that was just a week back.
    "Julie. What are you doing here?" Her eyes widened, and she grabbed the corner of the bed, trying to sit.
    I stopped her from doing that, because I could see how much energy she needed to do it, and it was a lot. "Please don't, Mom." I sat next to her, and held her hands. She was so thin. She looked nothing like the Mom I knew a couple of years back. Cancer had changed her completely.
    Every time I saw her I cursed the disease. I remembered the day we found out. It was photographed in my memory.
    A couple of years back, I got a call from the library she was working in. She’d fainted. Her coworkers had called 911, and they took her to the hospital. When I reached the hospital, doctor told me that my mother had a tumor in her brain, and it was too risky to operate. I fell on my knees and begged the doctor to do something, but he said there were few options. I took my mother to many other specialists, but no one advised surgery, and after three months of frustration, I ended