"I open my eyes. I am in the dark. Or am I the shadow? Will there be shadows in the dark? Do I feel it? Or am I afraid? Yes, I do. I am the white light. I close my eyes… Then I open them again. This time I'm in a desert. I am walking. I have camels on my back and a bag on my back. I hear a voice from afar. I am going towards him… "
"Are you happy now Helder? Did you relax?" that voice says.
This voice…
"Are you Mark?" I say.
But he doesn't answer my question.
I am asking again.
"Dude, are you?"
But again it is silent.
A few seconds pass and he starts talking.
"It is also a pleasure to play in a weak team, isn't it? I told you before, losing is sometimes the key to winning. Do you understand me better now, my dear friend? "
"A weak team? What do you mean?"
"Close your eyes again." that voice says.
I am closing my eyes.
"Open your eyes again…" the voice says.
I open my eyes.
I'm on a football field.
There are a lot of fans. They cheer like crazy. I feel like my ears are going to be deaf.
I'm in control of myself. I have gloves. Am I a goalkeeper?
The opponent team is attacking.
The opponent's footballer takes a shot from 25-30 meters away.
Time stops suddenly.
The ball is in the air and does not move.
The voices of the audience are no longer heard, either.
I also jumped on the incoming ball.
I'm in the air like a ball.
That voice is starting to speak again.
"Do you remember this moment?" he asks.
"Yes, I remembered." I say.
"We won the European Clubs Cup thanks to this great save in the last second…" says the voice.
"Yes, you are right." I say…
"Close your eyes again." that voice says.
I am closing my eyes.
"You can open it now."
I open my eyes.
I'm in the dark again.
This time I feel weak.
It's like a burden on my feet.
I look at my feet.
I have shackles on my feet.
"Why did you do such a thing? What crime did I commit? " I say.
There is still silence.
"Why aren't you talking?"
There is no voice.
I hear a sound similar to the sudden unlocking of the lock.
That voice begins to speak.
"You are free now, my dear friend. Everything is in your hands from now on. Don't repeat the mistakes you had in your previous life. Find a woman you can trust. Marry that woman and have children. And do not force yourself. Don't ruin your life for the sake of the world cup again. See if you have fun in football. You see your biggest weakness before having fun. If anyone can change football, it is you. Be a good captain and lead your team. Have fun as a team, not just you. Don't be alone. Don't even think about suicide like before. I believe you. My dear friend Helder, please take your last chance… "
I shout "Mark… Mark… Mark…".
"Please don't go… don't leave me alone again…" I keep shouting.
But I never hear his voice again ...
***
It's 4 a.m.
Helder opened his eyes slowly.
For a moment he could not detect where he was.
For a few seconds, he remained motionless in the bed.
He finally remembered his dream ...
"Oh yes, I heard you again, my dear friend. So you wanted this from me. I swear that I will never make the same mistakes for you and for me again. " he sighed.
And he closed his eyes again.
Helder Xerxes would now change.
It had to change.
Destiny and Helder Xerxes would move together, but…
In the future, destiny had much bigger surprises for him...