Copa Lio

It had been a long time since I had woken up early. The lockdown and restrictions due to COVID-19 had made life way simpler. Too simple that it became complicated. There was nothing to go on and each and every day was a replica of the other. Waking up to a new beginning was a dream. But on the day of the Copa America Finals, I was wide awake at five in the morning, thirty minutes before kick-off, hoping to see Lio finally lift a trophy for the National team.

There is always a feeling of apprehension when heading into these matches. Knots formed in my gut even though my gut told me that this was it – the match that would finally put an end to the long, excruciating wait. But I refused to completely believe that because of the fear of jinxing it. I nervously sat through the match, shifting uneasily and biting my nails. When the final whistle blew, I didn’t jump in excitement, but let out a long breath of relief.

After I managed to get a hold of myself, I felt this weird, warm, soothing sensation seeing Lio. I say it is weird because it was a long-lost feeling. Pure happiness.

I have always been fascinated by the concept of love. Figuring out what love is, has been especially tricky because of the different answers you get and feel, at different points of time in your life. The love that parents have for their children. The love that romantic partners feel for each other. The love that friends and family share among themselves. They all are great, but there is a certain give and take, and a particular design to it.

The genuine happiness that I felt for Lio, who in no way is related to me or doesn’t even know that I exist, is what I think is closest to unadulterated love. And almost everyone around the world seemed to share the same. The Copa America Final is especially a testament to it because Lio didn’t exactly have a good game. His teammates, each and every one of them, stepped up for him, for the love of him.

Winning the Copa America is great. But the love that Lio has received is much greater than any copa. I am sure all of us want that, in some form or the other, but we aren’t envious of him. We are just grateful to have experienced it.

 

Dear Lio,

 

Thank you for making us happy. We love you.

 

Just another fan.