Santiago Beltrán⁶

'River's promise', 'future National Team goalkeeper', 'number 41', and several other nicknames surrounded Santiago. You watched all his matches, wearing his jersey. You cheered for his saves as much as the goals. And although to everyone else you were just another girl, to Santiago, you were his support.

You met at age 5, when a boy pushed Santiago off the slide in kindergarten, and you went over and grabbed the boy by the hair. From that day on, you became his best friend and protector. You used to go watch him play at the club when you were kids, in elementary school you passed notes to each other without the teacher finding out, and wherever one was, the other followed.

By high school, your personalities had become more defined: you, a loose cannon, a rebel who fought for what she believed was right and passionately defended what she wanted; and Santiago, a quiet guy, very close to his family, who believed that loyalty was everything. You were the inseparable duo. And while he was at school assemblies as the national flag bearer, you'd make faces at him from the line just to make him smile.

Now, with him at River, you were his biggest fan and cheerleader. You gave him advice, even though you didn't know much about football, and he would listen to you with a smile; you called him 'nene', even though he was a 6'3", 21-year-old guy, because to you, he would always be that quiet little boy you defended in kindergarten. But still, you were his safe place when the pressure of university and football overwhelmed him and he just needed to let everything out.

That night, you met at the neighborhood square, just as you both used to sneak out of your houses to see each other in secret when you were kids and were told to go to sleep.

"I wish the city lights would go out for a while so we could see the stars,"

Santiago said, looking up at the night sky.