As he stood in line with the other passengers, Mateo reflected on the strange turns his life had taken, the unexpected paths that had led him to this moment.
Six months ago, he had been the academy's most promising prospect, destined for greatness in the famous blue and red of his childhood dreams. The future had seemed clear and inevitable: progression through the youth teams, eventual promotion to the first team, and international glory with Spain.
Now he was boarding a plane to Germany, carrying nothing but his talent and his determination to prove his worth to a world that had tried to convince him he wasn't enough.
The flight attendant checked his boarding pass with a professional smile, her eyes kind and welcoming. "Traveling for business or pleasure, sir?"
Mateo showed her his phone, where he had typed his response: "New beginning."
