The airport smelled like cold metal and coffee
Cristiano's hands gripped the straps of his old backpack
His boots were tied together with string and hung from the side
He wore the green Sporting Lisbon jacket they gave him
It didn't fit
Nothing felt like it fit anymore
He looked at his mother
She was holding back tears
Her hands cupped his face gently like she was trying to memorize it
You don't forget who you are Cristiano
I won't Mama
You call me every night You promise
I promise
His father stood behind them silent
Eyes red
Smelling like the night before
Cristiano didn't expect much from him
But as he turned to go his father muttered
Play like it's your last match every time
Cristiano nodded
He walked toward the gate
Didn't look back
Couldn't
If he did he might cry
And if he cried he might stop walking
And if he stopped now
He'd never start again
Lisbon was cold
Not the weather
The feeling
The people walked faster
Talked sharper
Smiled less
At the Sporting academy they gave him a room
Plain walls
Single bed
Shared bathroom
No warmth
No noise
No hills
The other boys laughed at his accent
Called him island boy
Mocked the way he dressed
Said he thought he was special
Cristiano said nothing
He didn't come here to make friends
He came to become the best
He trained when no one was watching
Stayed after every session
Ran drills by himself
Juggled in the dark
Taped weights to his ankles and jumped until his legs gave out
Did pushups until his arms trembled
Then started over
One night a coach saw him alone on the field
The sky already black
Cristiano's shirt soaked with sweat
You trying to kill yourself boy
Cristiano kept moving
I need to be faster
You're already fast
Not fast enough
That night he called home
His sister picked up
Said Papa hadn't come home again
Mama was tired
Bills were late
Cristiano didn't know what to say
He just listened
Then whispered
I'll make it Mama I swear
He hung up and opened the window
Cold wind hit his face
He looked out at the city lights
Somewhere beyond that sky was Madeira
Somewhere was the hill
Somewhere was the boy he used to be
But that boy was gone
He wasn't going back
He was going forward
No matter what