Two Lost Souls
If there was something Elizabeth hated at that moment, it was hospital rooms.
Completely covered by a surgical gown, a face mask, and a disposable cap, she stood motionless in front of the hospital bed, separated from it by thick plastic curtains that carried that unbearable sterile smell which seemed to cling to the back of her throat.
Lying on the bed was a pale man, far thinner than he once had been, an oxygen mask covering part of his face. His dark hair was messy, and his exhausted green eyes looked at her with a mixture of unbearable love and sorrow as he struggled for every breath.
“We didn’t have enough time… but I wouldn’t change… a single minute of all those years…”
His weak voice barely managed to pass through the oxygen mask and the constant beeping of the machines.
Elizabeth felt tears running beneath her own mask.
“You’re right… we had a good life, my love…” she replied, her voice trembling. “I wish our Lord had a different plan…”
The man gave her a faint smile.
“We’ll never know… Elizabeth…” he murmured weakly, his voice growing softer with every word. “Be strong… take care of the children… and most importantly…”
Then, the monitor’s beeping began to accelerate.
“Be happy… find your happiness… I love you… with all my heart… Elizabeth…”
Finally, the man’s eyes slowly closed, sinking into a sleep from which he would never awaken again.
Elizabeth suddenly stood up, trembling as she pressed both hands against the plastic curtain.
“Mark! Mark, please!” she sobbed desperately as her body shook from grief.
Several nurses dressed in similar protective gear quickly arrived and pulled her away from the sterile area while doctors rushed in to examine the man.
And Elizabeth could do nothing except fall to her knees.
Crying for the death of the love of her life.
Three years later.
The spring sun shone brightly over a small and cozy family home.
Elizabeth Miller, now twenty-eight years old, moved through her house with the quiet calm of someone who had learned how to survive pain. Standing at a proud five foot ten, with loose curly blonde hair falling freely over her shoulders and a soft maternal body shaped by both time and motherhood, she moved gracefully from room to room wearing a modest orange sweater that covered her neck and wrists, along with a long green skirt that reached down to her calves.
The entire house was filled with the delicious aroma of chicken stew that had been cooking all morning. Everything was spotless, as if Elizabeth had turned order and routine into a silent way of keeping her life together.
When a soft chime echoed from the kitchen, Elizabeth set the broom aside and calmly walked through the living room toward the stove. She turned off the flame and lifted the lid of an old darkened pot worn down by years of use. Her hazel eyes examined the contents with satisfaction as the meat juices slowly bubbled among perfectly cooked vegetables.
“It’s perfect…” she whispered with a small smile.
She placed the lid back on and walked once again toward the main living room, where a comfortable couch rested in front of a large television, surrounded by family photographs spread across the walls.
Eventually, she stopped in front of a small altar.
Elizabeth slowly knelt down as sunlight passed through the window, illuminating the golden cross resting delicately against her chest.
“In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit…”
She made the sign of the cross peacefully.
In front of her rested two small figures: the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ upon the cross. Beside them stood a framed photograph of Mark Miller, her husband.
“Thank you, Lord, for the food you have allowed me to place on this table… thank you for giving me another day to care for my family…” she prayed softly, her hands clasped together.
When she finished, her eyes drifted toward her husband’s photograph.
And a warm melancholy appeared within her smile.
“One more day, my love… I hope you continue resting peacefully beside our Lord…”
Elizabeth slowly stood up, smoothing her skirt as she prepared to set the table when the front door finally opened.
The moment she turned around, a warm and genuine smile immediately appeared on her face.
There they were.
Her two beautiful children.
Jacob and Sarah Miller.
Jacob, eight years old, was a cheerful and energetic boy with messy blonde hair and bright hazel eyes full of life. He wore a superhero T-shirt, blue pants, and his beloved red sneakers, already slightly worn out from endless running and playing.
Sarah, on the other hand, was much smaller and quieter. At only five years old, the little girl observed the world with a mixture of shyness and curiosity through her large green eyes. Her blonde hair was tied into two small braided pigtails, and she wore a pink shirt along with a modern pair of wool pants.
“Mom!” Jacob exclaimed before immediately running toward her and wrapping himself around her legs.
“There’s my little boy…” Elizabeth gently stroked his head before looking down at Sarah, who quickly moved closer to hug her as well. “How was school?”
“Miss Carter taught us how to add and subtract…” Sarah answered softly with her small timid voice.
“And the soccer club visited our class!” Jacob added excitedly as he looked up at his mother. “Can you sign me up, Mom? Please?”
Elizabeth let out a soft laugh.
“We’ll talk about it later, sweetheart.”
Two more figures entered the living room shortly afterward.
Elizabeth lifted her gaze toward Martha Miller, Mark’s older sister. At thirty-seven years old, Martha carried the same modest and calm image as the rest of the family. She wore a simple green sweater paired with light blue jeans, while her long dark hair fell straight down her back like a waterfall.
And beside her stood Jenna.
Her fifteen-year-old niece.
The teenager had short dark hair with a purple streak dyed into one side that immediately stood out. She wore a red T-shirt, gray shorts, and fishnet stockings that reached down into her boots.
Elizabeth blinked.
“My goodness… Jenna, what are you wearing now?”
Jenna let out an amused sigh.
“You too, Aunt Liz? This is what people wear nowadays.”
Martha sighed while pressing a hand against her cheek.
“I still haven’t managed to convince her that those clothes are inappropriate.”
“Your mother is right,” Elizabeth agreed gently. “Kids, go wash your hands. Lunch is almost ready.”
Jacob grabbed Sarah’s hand and led her toward the bathroom while Jenna crossed her arms.
“I seriously don’t understand what’s inappropriate about this. And don’t tell me you two dressed like that your entire lives.”
“Of course we did,” Martha answered without hesitation.
“It’s a lovely and appropriate way to dress,” Elizabeth added with a small smile.
Though moments later, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
“Although… I admit I did go through a rebellious phase once.”
“Like everyone does,” Martha said with a grin.
“Ohhh, now I definitely want to hear this,” Jenna immediately replied, walking closer to her aunt with a teasing smile.
Elizabeth looked away, completely embarrassed as she nervously played with her fingers.
"Well… when I was in high school… I bought a high-waisted blouse that showed my stomach…" Her face turned completely red.
"How embarrassing…!"
Jenna opened her mouth, ready to tease her.
But she stopped.
The teenager blinked slowly before looking suspiciously at her aunt.
"Wait… did you only wear it inside your house or in the garden?"
"Of course I did!" Elizabeth replied matter-of-factly, even smiling with innocent pride. "My mother almost had a heart attack when she saw me strolling casually through the garden."
"You never wore it to school?"
"Oh my god, of course not, that would have been too much."
Jenna let out a defeated groan as she started walking toward the bathroom.
“That’s no fun at all....”
Martha let out a quiet laugh before walking closer and placing a hand on Elizabeth’s shoulder.
“Teenagers… right?” she said amusedly.
“I just hope my children stay calm when they reach that age…” Elizabeth sighed softly before giving her a grateful smile. “Thank you for bringing the kids home, Martha.”
“That’s what sisters-in-law are for.”
Martha smiled back warmly and gave her a brief hug before pulling away, though a mischievous expression quickly appeared on her face.
“Besides… you have no idea who I saw with Miss Carter outside the school.”
Elizabeth’s eyes lit up immediately.
“Don’t tell me! Mr. Burns from the bakery?”
“Nothing like that!” Martha laughed softly. “It was young Mr. Milton, the new high school biology teacher.”
Elizabeth’s mouth opened slightly.
“Seriously?”
“They were standing awfully close together, according to people,” Martha continued conspiratorially. “Apparently, Mr. Milton stayed after school to help supervise the children.”
Elizabeth let out a muffled little laugh while covering her lips with both hands.
“I can’t believe it! Mrs. Higgins is going to love hearing about this.”
Between quiet laughter and whispered gossip, the two women eventually settled around the dining table. After praying for the meal, they began eating together while the children excitedly talked about their day at school and Jenna attempted to convince her mother that piercings were “an essential part” of her generation.
Just as they were about to finish eating, a notification appeared on Jenna’s phone.
The teenager quickly pulled it out, and her eyes instantly lit up.
“Aunt Liz! Can we use the TV to watch a video? It’s about the Bull’s story!”
Jacob reacted immediately.
“Wait, it’s finally out?!” The boy jumped to his feet before looking at Elizabeth with clasped hands and huge pleading eyes. “Mom, pleaaase let us watch it on the big TV…”
Elizabeth rolled her eyes while shaking her head.
“Alright, alright… but don’t turn the volume up too much. You know the neighbors had a baby just a month ago.”
“Yes!”
Both Jenna and Jacob rushed excitedly toward the living room.
“I want to draw something,” Sarah said shyly.
With a smile and a small nod from Elizabeth, the little girl climbed down from her chair and happily ran after them.
Martha watched the children leave while beginning to gather some of the dirty dishes.
“I honestly don’t understand why they like that ‘Bull’ so much. That man is far too violent.”
“I don’t understand it either,” Elizabeth admitted as she helped clear the table. “Even Mark loved watching his fights… but honestly, I’ll be relieved as long as Jacob doesn’t try to imitate that boxer.”
Jacob and Jenna had settled excitedly onto the couch while Sarah lay comfortably on the carpet with sheets of paper and crayons, fully focused on her drawing.
The screen displayed the image of a small animated cat wearing a ninja headband and formal clothes. Only its mouth moved as it spoke with exaggerated enthusiasm.
“Good morning, afternoon, or evening, viewers! And if you’re eating while watching this video, comment ‘I like cats.’”
Jacob let out a small laugh while Jenna shook her head in amusement.
“Today, I bring you a documentary about the fighter of the moment, nicknamed ‘The Bull,’ one of the greatest boxers of the century.”
The image immediately changed.
A massive and heavily built man appeared on screen, his muscular torso covered with scars displayed without shame. His red boxing gloves were raised high while the crowd roared around him. He had dark brown eyes, short black hair, a long scar running from his left eyebrow down across his cheek, along with the fractured mark over the bridge of his nose that seemed to follow nearly every professional boxer.
“Joseph Graves!”
Jacob’s eyes widened with excitement.
“It’s him!”
“For those of you who already follow this channel and know the champion himself, congratulations. But for those who don’t… let me explain who this incredible fighter really is.”
The image changed once again.
This time, an old gray building surrounded by snow appeared on screen.
“Abandoned at the ‘Joy’ orphanage in New York when he was only three months old, Joseph grew up in a difficult and unstable environment. His name was given to him by the nuns who ran the orphanage.”
Several old photographs began appearing across the screen.
A thin child with serious eyes.
Always alone.
“He grew up inside the system, constantly moving between foster homes and the orphanage… but sadly, no family ever came to adopt him.”
Jenna grew quiet for a moment.
Even Sarah slightly lifted her gaze from her drawing.
“At eighteen years old, when the system finally left him on his own, Joseph walked away from the orphanage and began living on the streets, dreaming of a better life.”
The next clips showed low-quality recordings of underground fights.
“He entered illegal fights hoping to eventually pay for college… but one year later, at only nineteen years old, he would meet the man who changed his life forever.”
A new photograph appeared.
A much younger Joseph, still without visible scars, stood beside an older man with a stern expression, gray hair, and deep wrinkles across his face. He wore an old red tracksuit jacket with white stripes.
“Nolan Graves. May he rest in peace.” The narrator’s voice softened slightly.
“A war veteran who later became a professional boxing trainer. One day, Nolan arrived at an underground ring alongside a state champion. Together, they challenged the strongest fighter inside ‘The Box’… and that was where he met Joseph.”
The image shifted toward an old improvised ring.
“That night, Joseph defeated the state champion despite being little more than a rookie.”
Jacob watched with complete fascination.
“From that moment on, Nolan took Joseph in as his pupil and brought him into professional boxing. As his career advanced, Joseph abandoned his plans of attending university in order to dedicate himself entirely to the sport.”
The screen began showing training footage.
China.
Japan.
India.
South Korea.
“And from the moment he began… Joseph never stopped rising.”
The images rapidly shifted between brutal matches and consecutive victories.
“By the day he finally earned a chance at the world title, Joseph had built a record that was impossible to ignore.”
The narrator’s voice rose dramatically.
“Two hundred and forty-three fights! Two hundred and forty-three victories! And zero defeats!”
Jacob threw both arms into the air excitedly. “YEAH!”
“It was thanks to his size, endurance, and brutal power inside the ring that he earned the nickname ‘The Bull.’”
Then, the documentary’s music slowly softened.
The next image showed Nolan sitting beside the ring while Joseph held the heavyweight world championship belt above his head.
“Sadly, on the very same day Joseph won the world title… Nolan Graves, the man who became the father he never had, passed away due to heart complications.”
“To honor everything Nolan had done for him, Joseph officially adopted his surname… and from that day forward, he became known as Joseph Graves.”
The footage returned to scenes of the champion raising belts and trophies high above his head.
“Two years after that tragedy, Joseph remains undefeated as the heavyweight world champion. And tonight, ladies and gentlemen… we’ll see whether the Bull can defend his title once again as the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world!”
The cat narrator practically shouted with excitement.
“We all support the Bull!!”
The locker room was large and dimly lit, illuminated only by a few weak overhead lights that cast shadows across the metallic walls. Joseph’s clothes rested neatly inside an open locker when the heavy gray door finally opened.
“All set, Joseph.”
Joseph lifted his gaze.
Riski stood by the entrance. A dark-skinned older man wearing a dark blue tracksuit. He was already in his sixties, and although he had originally been one of Joseph’s gym business partners, over time he had also become his new coach.
Joseph let out a long breath.
“Alright… let’s do this.”
He slowly rose to his feet and grabbed a red robe hanging nearby before draping it over his shoulders. Then he began walking down the dark hallway leading directly toward the ring.
And then he stepped out.
A loud burst of rock and roll exploded throughout the arena as bright white lights immediately descended upon him.
The crowd erupted.
The boxing ring stood at the center of a relatively small stadium surrounded by cameras, giant screens, and endless rows of seats packed with fans shouting a single name with overwhelming excitement.
“Bull!”
“Bull!”
“Bull!”
Joseph slowly walked beneath the lights while the noise seemed powerful enough to shake the entire building.
“Ladies and gentlemen!” the announcer declared energetically through the microphone. “Entering the arena tonight… the undefeated heavyweight world champion… Joseph Graves!”
The crowd exploded once again.
The man speaking was John Stuart, a veteran commentator with slicked-back dark hair and an elegant black suit.
“This is John Stuart speaking, and I’ve personally followed Joseph’s career for many years now. You could practically say I watched the kid grow up. And joining me tonight is our newest commentator, Nicolas Jameson.”
“Thank you very much, John,” the younger man replied enthusiastically, his red hair standing out beneath the arena lights. “And I have to say, I’m incredibly excited to witness the champion fight from ringside tonight.”
Nicolas glanced toward the ring with a grin.
“Because tonight, Joseph faces Japan’s newest rising star… Iguchi Suichi, straight out of Okinawa.”
John let out a small chuckle.
“Let me tell you something, Nicolas. Throughout my entire career watching Joseph fight, I’ve seen every promising young challenger fall before him. And most of those victories ended with knockouts. So honestly, I sincerely hope young Iguchi can give the champion a real fight tonight.”
Joseph finally climbed into the ring.
He removed the red robe and handed it over to Riski before slowly walking around the ring, raising both arms toward the crowd as they cheered for him with pure excitement.
On the opposite side, Iguchi appeared.
A young man nearly as tall as Joseph, though far less heavily built. The Japanese boxer respectfully bowed toward the audience before walking toward the center of the ring.
Soon, both fighters stood face to face beside the referee.
“It is an honor, Graves-san,” Iguchi said with a noticeable accent while slightly bowing his head. “I hope to defeat you tonight.”
Joseph gave him a faint, tired smile.
Then he extended his gloves toward him.
“We’ll see about that, friend… come on, this is how we do it in North America.”
Iguchi smiled slightly.
Then he raised his gloves and gently tapped them against Joseph’s.
And then… The bell rang.
“The fight begins! Joseph misses a right hook, Iguchi answers with a hook and an uppercut that lands and— OH! Joseph immediately counters with a powerful hook that sends Iguchi stumbling backward!”
John Stuart’s excited voice echoed loudly from the living room television.
“YES! Let’s go, Bull!” Jenna shouted excitedly from the couch.
Beside her, Jacob—wearing blue dinosaur pajamas—kicked his legs excitedly while watching Joseph slam powerful punches into Iguchi inside the ring.
“Yeah! He’s the undisputed champion!”
“How can you all watch something so… violent?”
Sitting in a separate armchair was Hugh Thompson, Martha’s husband. A man around her age, with small wrinkles around his eyes and neatly combed brown hair brushed back. He wore a gray vest over a blue shirt and denim jeans while staring at the television with clear disapproval.
“That man is probably an extremely aggressive person,” Hugh commented while slowly shaking his head.
“Dad, boxers are disciplined. Besides, his trainer was a war veteran,” Jenna replied while rolling her eyes.
“Even so, someone who fights like that…” Hugh pointed toward the screen just as Joseph slammed Iguchi against the ropes. “…can’t possibly be completely stable.”
“But Uncle Hugh, he’s awesome!” Jacob immediately defended him, his eyes filled with admiration. “He’s the world champion! He was even in the Olympics!”
“Well… that’s certainly more impressive than I expected,” Martha admitted as she walked out of the kitchen.
Elizabeth appeared right behind her, drying her hands with a small towel.
Hugh finally stood up and walked toward Martha, gently kissing her forehead before glancing at Elizabeth with a polite nod.
“You sure Jenna can stay the night?”
“Of course,” Elizabeth replied with an easy gesture of her hand. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure she gets to school early tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Elizabeth.”
Martha separated from her husband and warmly hugged her sister-in-law.
“We’ll see you tomorrow at family dinner, right?”
“Of course,” Elizabeth answered with a warm smile. “My parents have been very eager to taste your mother’s sauce again.”
Martha let out a soft laugh.
“Then I’ll make sure she makes enough so you can take some home too.”
She turned back toward Hugh affectionately.
“Ready to go?”
Hugh nodded before approaching Elizabeth and giving her a brief friendly hug.
“Take care, Elizabeth. And Jenna… behave yourself while you’re staying with your aunt.”
“Yes, Dad…” Jenna answered without taking her eyes off the television.
Eventually, Elizabeth’s in-laws finally left for the night.
She let out a small sigh before walking toward the living room couch.
“Alright, Jenna. Once… that finishes,” she said while pointing toward the television, “you two have ten more minutes before bedtime, okay?”
“Yes, Aunt Liz,” Jenna replied while turning her head to smile at her. “Did Sarah already fall asleep?”
Elizabeth let out a soft laugh.
“Like a baby. I’m going to take a bath, so I’m leaving Jacob with you.”
“You heard her,” Jenna said before suddenly pulling Jacob into a playful hug and tickling him.
“Stop! The Bull’s about to win!”
Elizabeth laughed quietly to herself before walking away and heading upstairs toward the second floor of her warm home.
The bathroom, decorated with light blue tiles and a bathtub resting at the center of the room, was already fogged by the steam rising from the hot bubbling water.
After preparing the bath and pouring scented soap into the water, Elizabeth slowly removed her modest clothing, carefully folding each piece to the side.
Her body, softly marked by motherhood, still carried warm feminine curves that normally remained hidden beneath her long skirts and high-neck sweaters.
Elizabeth slowly lowered herself into the bathtub.
And the moment the hot water wrapped around her body, she let out a long exhausted sigh.
For several quiet moments, she simply remained there, staring up at the softly illuminated ceiling above her.
A melancholic smile slowly formed across her lips.
It had been a pleasant dinner.
Her relationship with Mark’s family remained loving and close.
And her children… her precious babies…
continued growing more every single day.
Warmth filled her chest as she thought about the life she had built.
Three years after that tragedy, Elizabeth could honestly say she felt grateful for everything she had.
Content… but not completely happy.
The smile on her lips slowly began to fade.
“I have a loving family… I live in a wonderful community… so why do I still feel so alone…?”
Elizabeth slowly sank deeper beneath the warm bubbles.
“Mark… I still miss you so much…”
Her hazel eyes shimmered slightly as she rested her head against the edge of the bathtub.
“I try to feel happy… I truly do… but it still feels like something is missing…”
The silence of the bathroom completely surrounded her.
And then, almost in a whisper, Elizabeth finally spoke the question she had kept buried deep inside her heart for years.
“How do I find happiness again…?”
“The Bull Defends His Title. Joseph Graves Maintains His Undefeated Record.”
That was the headline glowing across the sports section of his phone.
After defeating Iguchi and sincerely congratulating him on the match, Joseph had finally returned home.
A massive penthouse located high above New York’s Upper West Side.
A place he had once been deeply proud of.
The first real step toward the life he had always dreamed about.
A home at the top of the world.
Exactly where he had always wanted to be.
“This is incredible, Joseph.”
His agent’s excited voice echoed through the Bluetooth earpiece still resting in his ear.
“Two years undefeated. We’re still getting new sponsors, and I already have five more advertising contracts prepared for you. Once again, you completely stole the show tonight.”
Joseph let out a tired sigh as he placed his phone down on the marble counter.
“I’ll think about it. Thanks, Karen. Get some rest.”
And without waiting for an answer, he hung up.
He removed the earpiece and carelessly tossed it aside before slowly walking through the vast, silent penthouse.
The enormous windows displayed a breathtaking view of New York glowing against the darkness of the night. Modern furniture, minimalist decoration, and automatic lights turning on with every step he took.
Everything looked elegant.
Perfect.
And completely silent.
Eventually, Joseph reached the master bathroom.
Without much care, he began removing his clothes and tossing them aside, revealing a broad torso covered in scars and fresh bruises.
A few minutes later, the bathtub had already filled with steaming hot water.
Joseph slowly stepped inside.
And immediately let out a low grunt as the heat touched the fresh injuries across his bruised face.
After that, he simply remained there.
Still.
Staring at the ceiling.
A distant, melancholic expression resting across his face.
He had everything.
Fame.
Money.
Investments.
Stability.
All the food he could ever want.
A home bought with the work of his own hands.
He had everything he used to dream about back when he lived in the orphanage.
So then… why did he still feel so empty?
“Why…?” he finally muttered, his voice echoing through the immense silence of the penthouse. “Why do I still feel so empty…?”
Joseph slowly closed his eyes.
“What am I supposed to do now, Nolan…?”
His voice sounded tired and lost.
Almost broken.
“What do I do… when I feel this lost…?”
