Santiago Beltran

Eight years had passed since Santiago Beltrán and I met. What began with an injury ended up becoming a life together. Now we were married and had two children: six-year-old Benjamín, a soccer fanatic determined to be a goalkeeper like his dad, and three-year-old Olivia, quiet, sweet, and completely attached to him. That morning, a few knocks on the door woke us before the alarm went off.
—Mom...? Is it daytime already?
Benjamin appeared with a ball under his arm. Before he could answer, Santiago spoke from the bed.
—Today I promised her that she would come with me to training.
"Come on, Dad!" shouted Benjamin.
—First I need a coffee, champ.
At that moment Olivia appeared, hugging her stuffed dinosaur.
-Me too...?
Santiago immediately opened his arms.
—Come with Dad.
She snuggled up to his chest.
—I don't want you to leave...
—Just for a little while, princess. Then we'll make chocolate cake.
-Promise?
—Goalkeeper promise.
"Goalkeeper promises are worth double!" interrupted Benjamin.
—And I always fulfill them.
I couldn't help but smile. When Santiago leaned in to kiss me, Benjamin stepped between us.
-Disgusting!
Olivia, on the other hand, began to applaud.
—Another kiss!
The four of us ended up laughing. While Santiago got ready to leave, Benjamín tried to put on his enormous gloves, and Olivia kept insisting on combing his hair. He let her without protesting. Before leaving, he came back to where I was, took my hand, and kissed my forehead.
—Thank you for this life.
—Thank you for always coming home.
He looked at the boys, who were already arguing about who would sit in front.
—I can play in front of thousands of people, but you three will always be my favorite team.
And as I watched them leave laughing, I thought that, even after so many years, I was still falling in love with the same man every day.