Echoes of the Future

The late-night wind in Valencia had a sound — a kind of distant hush, like waves far away, or a city holding its breath. Tobi Oliveira stood on the small balcony outside his bedroom, hands on the railing, letting the air cool his face.

Inside, Leonor was already asleep. His mother had turned in early too, though she left a note on the kitchen table.

> "Meeting with the Puma rep tomorrow. We'll go over your new boot deal. Sleep well, meu campeão."

— Mãe

Tobi folded the note and slid it into his drawer. He wasn't thinking about boot deals tonight. He was thinking about time.

How fast it moved.

And how fast it could all disappear.

---

Sunday morning came quietly.

Coach Ramos had given them the day off after the Girona match — "Mental rest is part of the training," he'd said.

But Tobi didn't rest.