Chapter 1: The first dip

  The sun burned over Monterrey, melting the pavement and making the air vibrate as if the world was about to catch fire. At the entrance of the school, a small crowd met in front of the covered pool. It was the day of the tests to enter the swimming club. For many, it was just one more extracurricular activity, but for two people, that day would mark the beginning of something much bigger.

  Talión was next to the entrance, sitting on a bench. His gaze was fixed on the gym door, as if everything else didn't exist. His head was bubbling with thoughts: "Three competitions... three chances... I have to win them all if I want to get to France."

  For as long as he could remember, water had been his refuge, his best friend. But today, the water didn't feel like a safe place... it felt like an obstacle. I knew those tests wouldn't be easy; not only was it enough to be good, I had to be the best.

  While Talion was meditating, someone fell next to him with a dramatic sigh.

  "Uff... it's so hot as hell..." said a soft, almost sweet voice.

  Talion turned his head and found himself with a thin and short figure. Light brown hair gathered in a high ponytail, a playful smile and bright eyes that seemed to say: I'm going to get into trouble today.

  "How are you?" I'm Luz," he said, extending his hand.

  Talión watched her (or lo) for a moment. With tight sportswear and a somewhat flirtatious posture, Luz seemed more ready for a catwalk than for a swimming event.

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  "I'm Talion," he replied, shaking his hand.

  "Are you here to win or just to show muscles?" Luz joked, giving him a friendly elbow.

  "To win," Talión replied with a smile.

  Luz didn't smile. That word echoed like an echo in his head. Winning... of course... as if it were so easy.

  Luz had heard all her life that she was not good for swimming. "You don't have the physique", "Your legs are very thin", "Your body is not made for this sport". But he had learned to ignore those voices. What I wanted was to show that size did not define talent.

  ?

  The coach called on all aspirants to form a line by the pool. The suffocating heat seemed to evaporate with the steam coming out of the crystal clear water.

  "Very well, guys," the coach said energetically. Let's see who has what it takes to enter this club. If you are not ready to give everything, you better not get into the water.

  Talion and Luz looked at each other briefly. One wanted to get to the Olympics... the other just wanted to show that he deserved to be there.

  When the whistle sounded, they both threw themselves into the water. Talion advanced with powerful strokes, cutting the water as if it were controlling it. Luz, on the other hand, seemed to slide lightly, without the same force, but with a neat and elegant technique.

  Talion was the first to touch the wall, panting slightly. But when he looked at the next lane, he saw that Luz had reached only half a body behind him.

  "Not bad..." said Talión, impressed.

  Luz took off her glasses, her eyes shining with determination.

  "And I'm just warming up."

  They both laughed. Talión felt something strange... as if that small and mysterious swimmer was going to become someone important in his life.

  What Talión didn't know is that, for Luz, that look and those words had been much more than a simple recognition. It had been the spark that lit a flame inside him... a flame that he didn't plan to let go out.

  From that day on, their paths would never separate again.

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  End of chapter 1