Chapter 69 – Rising Through Adversity
The dawn arrived quietly over Penedono, painting the village with soft shades of pink and amber. The morning mist curled around the rooftops and clung to the winding paths that led to the small training field at the edge of the village. Birds sang their first hesitant songs, and the air carried the faint scent of dew-drenched grass.
Diogo Jota, now rising into the warmth of adolescence but still carrying the weight of his previous life as a football star, laced up his worn boots with deliberate care. Each threadbare loop reminded him of past victories, the roar of crowds, and the unrelenting drive that had once defined him. But here, amidst the quiet streets and the gentle rhythm of village life, he needed to learn a different kind of resilience—one forged without stadium lights or cheering fans, where every small step counted.
