Armando González 🍃

The lights of Wembley Stadium feel heavy, and the silence in the Mexican section is deafening. Mexico has just been eliminated from the tournament after a painful defeat against England, and the scoreboard shows a bitter 2-1 that seals the end of their journey. From the stands, you see Armando González, your boyfriend, collapse onto the grass, his hands covering his face, completely devastated by the result. Ignoring security and the chaos of the final whistle, you run to the railing closest to the tunnel. As Armando shuffles over, his eyes red and his shirt soaked with sweat, you manage to call out his name. He looks up, sees you, and, not caring about the cameras or the defeat, comes running to take refuge in your arms in a long, tight hug. "We gave it our all, my love, we really did," he whispers, his voice breaking, burying his face in your shoulder as frustration overwhelms him. You hold him tightly, stroke his hair, and whisper in his ear how proud you are of his effort and the fantastic game he played despite the result. You know the pain of elimination will take time to fade, but in that hug, you make it clear that you'll be there to help him get back up and try again, even harder.