Joe had been unable to fill the void inside him lately. The battles he lost, the losses he experienced made him feel like there was something wrong somewhere. Whenever he felt lonely, the boxing gym felt like a refuge to him. Meeting up with his old coach Gus would make him feel a little better. Gus was not only a coach, but also a friend and a mentor.
When Joe stepped into the boxing gym, Gus was sitting there in his old spot, taking a deep drag on his cigarette and looking out. Gus's cool demeanor, always able to stay calm in any situation, gave Joe confidence.
"Gus, I need to get things together. My last fight… Then… Everything got messy." Joe paused, struggling to find the words. Gus listened to him in silence for a moment, then nodded with a slight smile.
"Boxing, Joe… It's one of the things in life that will define you the most. But remember, losing never defines you as a person. Every loss carries a lesson. The important thing is to get back up after every fall."
Joe relaxed a little, but there was still a pessimism and emptiness inside him from the last match. Although Gus's words gave him a little hope, the restlessness inside him did not go away. "Gus, does everything have a meaning? So much loss, so much pain…" Joe asked, moving a little closer.
Gus took a deep breath and stubbed out his cigarette. "Joe, think about everything in life having a purpose. But you have to find the meaning yourself. Fall, lose, experience the pain, but never give up."
At that moment, the door of the gym opened violently and two men rushed in. Both were carrying knives in their hands and advancing in a threatening manner. Joe immediately turned his attention to them, sensing that something was wrong in his soul. Gus stood up, trying to remain calm, and looked the men over with his eyes.
"Who are you? What do you want?" Gus asked, trying to control the situation. The men approached silently and immediately pulled out their knives.
The first man quickly lunged at Gus, swinging his knife at his waist. Gus reflexively pulled back, but the knife hit his left shoulder. Gus took a step back, groaning slightly in pain. Joe stared at the man and shouted, "Gus!"
But it got worse. The second man pushed Joe, knocking him to the ground. Joe quickly got up and his eyes focused on Gus again. Gus struggled to stand, sitting on the ground covered in blood. As the men tried to approach him, Joe mustered all his anger and strength and made a move.
Joe quickly grabbed the first man's knife from his arm, knocking him to the ground. Then, he incapacitated him with a sudden thrust to the other man's throat. Everything happened in an instant. As Gus sat on the ground, Joe ran towards him quickly.
"Gus, hang on! We have to get help!" Joe said in a panic. Gus took a deep breath and turned his eyes to him.
"Joe… Protect my daughter. Don't leave her… Promise me… Promise me… You will protect her."
Joe looked into his eyes in shock, but Gus's voice was clear. "Promise…" Gus said the words with the last of his strength. But something had broken inside Joe. Losing Gus had been a nightmare for him. Gus took a deep breath and continued, "Leave me… Protect him…"
Joe looked at Gus once more, his eyes filled with sorrow. Gus suddenly fell heavily backwards, collapsing to the ground. Joe approached him in fear. But Gus suddenly moved, holding his chest with one hand and taking a deep breath. "There is no end to everything in my life, Joe. Losing someone… You have to accept that."
Joe took a slow step forward, lifted Gus's head, and looked at him deeply, making a promise. "I promise, Gus. I will protect your daughter. I promise…"
Something had changed in Joe's mind. Gus's last wish had given him a responsibility, a purpose. Gus' words were now the most important thing in Joe's life. This was a journey. Protecting Gus' daughter, providing her with a safe life, had become a purpose to which Joe had dedicated his life.
Gus finally closed his eyes in a moment of relief, but he had survived. Although he had suffered severe injuries, he had escaped death. Joe, focusing on Gus's last wish in a moment of relief, quickly got up and left the hall.
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This moment in Joe's life had become a turning point that would change all of his goals. Without losing Gus, he would fulfill the meaning of his last promise to him, and he would do everything to ensure the safety of a person. Protecting his daughter had become Joe's most important duty. This duty to which Gus had dedicated his life had opened the doors to a new journey ahead of Joe.
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