Chapter 11: Stories that define us

  Night had fallen on Azrat's beach house. The group gathered in the main room, lying on armchairs and carpets after a long day of training. The atmosphere was calm, almost intimate.

  "What if we tell stories?" Aurora proposed, breaking the silence. Something we don't know about each one.

  "Like gossip?" Because if that's the case, I have a lot of stories about Luz... -Azrat joked, giving her a mocking look.

  "Don't you dare!" Luz replied, throwing him a cushion.

  "Nah, seriously..." Talion intervened. It may be a good idea... It would help us get to know each other better before the Coral Cup.

  "He goes... but with a rule:" Azrat said, raising his hand. Everyone tells a story: a sad one, a happy one or one that motivates.

  The group nodded, intrigued.

  ?

  The sad story – Aurora

  Aurora was the first to speak. She hugged her knees, thoughtful.

  "When I was a child... my older brother was also a swimmer," he said in a soft voice. He was incredibly good... much better than me. Everyone said that he would be the star of the family.

  The group was silent, knowing that something heavy was coming.

  "One day... after a competition, my brother decided to return home alone..." he paused, swallowing saliva. There was an accident on the road... and he didn't survive.

  Luz and Azrat exchanged serious glances.

  "When I lost him, I felt that I could never be up to his height... that no matter how hard I tried, I would never become like him." Aurora's eyes moistened, but she forced herself to smile. Now... I don't try to be like him anymore. I just want to be the best version of myself.

  Talion gave him a squeeze on the shoulder.

  "Your brother would be proud."

  Aurora smiled weakly.

  ?

  Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.

  The happy story – Luz

  Luz arranged her hair and took a breath.

  "Well... my happy story is not that deep... but for me it was incredible.

  "What happened?" Azrat asked.

  "The day I entered the swimming club... that was my best day." Luz said with a sincere smile. They always told me that I didn't have the ideal body, that I couldn't be fast, that my place wasn't here... But that day... when I passed the tests... I felt amazing.

  He paused and looked sideways at Talion.

  "And well... it was also the day I met Talión... so double victory.

  Talión scratched the back of his neck, uncomfortable but smiling.

  "Really?" Aurora asked.

  "Of course..." Luz replied, without taking her eyes off Talión.

  ?

  The motivation story – Azrat

  Azrat stretched as if nothing had happened, but his tone changed when he began to speak.

  "You see... my family is a millionaire." Many people think that I always had it easy... but it wasn't like that.

  The group looked at him with curiosity.

  "My dad is very strict." When I said I wanted to dedicate myself to swimming, he told me that it was a waste of time... that I would never stand out. That's why... everything I've achieved has been by showing him that I was wrong.

  Azrat smiled.

  "And well... now I'm here, with you, ready to win the Coral Cup.

  "You're incredible, brother..." Talión said, giving him a light blow to the fist.

  ?

  The story of Talión – The secret of the orca

  The group turned to Talion, who sighed deeply before starting.

  "Ok... this is going to sound weird... but it's 100% real."

  Silence took over the room.

  "When I was 13 years old, I went on an excursion with my school near the coast of Canada... in an area famous for the presence of orcas.

  "And what happened?" Aurora asked, intrigued.

  "I escaped from the group... I wanted to see an orca up close." Talion laughed bitterly. Idiot, right? Well... I got too close and... I ended up falling into the water. The cruise left without realizing it.

  Luz and Azrat leaned forward, attentive.

  "I was alone at sea for hours... until I arrived at a small desert island. I thought I would die there... until they appeared.

  "Them?" Aurora asked.

  "Three orcas." Talion smiled when he remembered. One of them, the one I called Flippy, looked at me as if she knew I wasn't going to survive alone. They started bringing me food... seals, fish... what they could. For a week they were my only companions. I felt that they understood me... as if they were part of me.

  "And what happened next?" Luz asked, her eyes shining with amazement.

  "I was found by the rescuers... but when I told them about the orcas, no one believed me. They say that orcas are ruthless predators... but I know it's not like that. *

  The group was silent.

  "That's why... when I swim... I feel like them." As if I could also be one with water.

  Talion took out his swimming cap from his backpack: black with the shape of a white orca painted on it.

  "This hat... is to remind me that one day I want to see them again."

  Aurora, Azrat and Luz were silent.

  "Brother..." Azrat said, smiling. You're weirder than I thought... but that's incredible.

  "Hey..." Luz gave him a slight push on the shoulder. If those orcas took care of you... surely it's because they knew you were special.

  "Yes... special like a madman who swims like a torpedo." Aurora joked.

  Everyone laughed. For the first time in a long time, the team felt more united than ever.

  "We're going to win that Coral Cup... for us... for those orcas... and because we're the best!" Azrat shouted, raising his fist.

  "Yes!" everyone chanted.

  ?

  End of chapter 11