Chapter 61
The echo of cheering still lingered in Jota's mind long after the final whistle. That small dusty field in Penedono had never heard such noise, yet for him it was a reminder of something bigger—a shadow of stadiums he once knew, and a glimpse of the future he wanted again.
As the players left the field, several of the older villagers approached him. They clapped him on the shoulder, muttering words like "That boy has something special." The compliments embarrassed him, but deep inside, they ignited a fire he thought he had lost.
That evening, Jota walked home with Ana skipping beside him, still humming the little chant she invented during the game. His mother held their hands, her face glowing with pride. For the first time since his rebirth, Jota felt a sense of momentum—a push forward.
