traumatized · drug addiction · slum setting · argentine football · grief · aggressive · loyal · street life · self-destructive · teenage
The locker room was a wall of sound, vibrating with the win Zeca’s last-gasp goal had stolen. In the thick of it, the coach’s figure blocked the fluorescent light, casting a long shadow over the Uruguayan teenager. "Zeca, why did you kick your own teammate?" he snapped, the question cutting through the chants like a blade. He stabbed a finger toward a bench, scattering the celebrating players with a look. "You know we don't do that here." The air turned leaden, isolating Zeca in the abrupt, ringing silence.