THE UNBROKEN ROAD

The locker room smelled of sweat and old leather, a scent Daniel was slowly growing used to. He sat on the wooden bench, unwrapping his hands. His knuckles were raw, the skin peeling from the repeated contact with Jason's gloves. His ribs ached with every breath, but it was a dull pain—one he had learned to accept.

Across from him, Jason was wiping his face with a towel. "You're getting better," he admitted. "Didn't think you had it in you."

Daniel smirked. "Neither did I."

Jason chuckled. "Harris has a way of bringing the fight out of people."

Daniel nodded, flexing his fingers. "I can feel it."

Jason stood and grabbed his bag. "You coming back tomorrow?"

Daniel hesitated. It wasn't a question of whether he wanted to. It was whether he could. His body was holding up, but he wasn't sure about his mind.

Jason must have noticed his hesitation. "You should. Harris doesn't waste his time on people who don't have potential."

Daniel glanced at the old man through the doorway, watching as Harris cleaned up around the gym. He didn't just train fighters—he built them.

"Yeah," Daniel said finally. "I'll be here."

Jason gave him a nod before heading out, leaving Daniel alone with his thoughts.

Ghosts That Linger

The night was cold when Daniel stepped outside. His breath came in white clouds, his muscles stiffening as the adrenaline wore off.

The city was quieter than usual. The streets were slick with moisture from an earlier rain, reflecting the dim glow of streetlights.

He started walking, his hands in his pockets, the gym fading behind him.

Each step carried the weight of the past.

A year ago, he would have been at home—drowning in whiskey, avoiding phone calls, shutting out the world.

A year ago, he had given up.

But now, something was shifting.

The further he walked, the clearer his thoughts became. He wasn't just running anymore. He was moving forward.

The thought should have been comforting. But instead, it brought something else—guilt.

Would Olivia be proud of him?

Or would she be angry that he had let himself break in the first place?

His stomach twisted. The grief never really left. It just found new ways to weigh him down.

A Familiar Place

Daniel didn't realize where his feet had taken him until he stopped in front of a familiar apartment building.

It was an old complex, the bricks weathered, the fire escape rusted. But it was the place he had once called home.

His fingers twitched at his sides. It had been months since he had been here—since he had stood outside the door of the apartment they had shared.

He hadn't been able to step inside after she was gone.

Now, he wasn't sure if he ever would.

He stared at the window on the third floor. The curtains were drawn, but he could still picture the inside—the couch where they had spent late nights talking, the kitchen where she had made coffee every morning, the balcony where she had loved to sit and watch the rain.

His chest tightened.

Maybe moving forward wasn't as easy as he thought.

Maybe some ghosts never left.

An Unexpected Call

His phone buzzed in his pocket, pulling him back to the present.

He hesitated before answering. "Yeah?"

"You didn't show up at the bar," a familiar voice said.

Daniel exhaled. "Hey, Marco."

Marco had been his best friend since college, though Daniel had done a good job of shutting him out over the past year.

"Don't 'Hey, Marco' me," Marco said. "I thought we were grabbing a drink."

Daniel had completely forgotten. "I got caught up at the gym."

There was a pause. Then, a laugh. "Wait—you're back at the gym?"

Daniel rubbed his face. "Yeah."

"No way. You mean you actually stopped feeling sorry for yourself long enough to do something?"

Daniel smirked despite himself. "Something like that."

There was a beat of silence. Then Marco's tone softened. "Good, man. That's good."

Daniel didn't respond right away.

Marco sighed. "Look, I know you don't want to hear it, but I gotta say it. Olivia wouldn't want you stuck like this forever. She'd want you to live."

Daniel swallowed hard. "I know."

"You do know," Marco said. "But do you believe it?"

Daniel had no answer for that.

Marco didn't push. "Come by the bar sometime. You don't have to drink—just come talk."

Daniel hesitated. Then, "Yeah. Maybe."

"I'll take that as a win," Marco said. "See you around, man."

The call ended, leaving Daniel standing in the cold, staring up at the apartment window one last time before turning away.

Back to the Fight

The next evening, Daniel was at the gym again, his hands wrapped, his body sore but ready.

Harris watched him as he stepped into the ring. "You look different today," the old man said.

Daniel adjusted his gloves. "Had a long night."

Harris nodded knowingly. "That happens when you start waking up."

Jason climbed into the ring across from him, rolling his shoulders. "Ready for round two?"

Daniel met his gaze, something sharper behind his eyes this time.

"Yeah," he said. "I am."