Cristiano's Life Decision

Once, not so very long ago, there was a 15-year-old boy named Cristiano. He was an excellent football player, because he dedicated every waking moment to it. He practiced morning, noon and night. He practiced in between training with his team, while eating sandwiches for his lunch and he dreamed of practicing in his sleep.

Cristiano didn’t just love football. He lived football. The coaches kept moving him up to more advanced teams and older players to challenge him. And his game only improved. It was a little lonely not playing with boys his age, but he had his old friend Voz he could always rely on.

Voz was a home-made cloth ball he’d brought from his island home of Madeira. He'd been with Cris for years. And he was a very special ball, too. Because he spoke! Not only did he speak to Cristiano, he helped him practice and train.

One day, when they were out on the football pitch, Cristiano felt a hitch in his chest. It was as if his heart was beating a hundred miles a minute! He stopped to take a breath.

"What's wrong?" asked Voz, worried.

"I'm sure it's nothing," replied Cristiano. "I just have to rest a moment." He felt better after and began practicing again, forgetting all about it.

But then it happened again, in a rare moment he wasn’t training but relaxing in his room. His heart beat like a hummingbird and he had trouble breathing. And one night he was woken up by the pounding in his chest and his shortness of breath.

It seemed to be getting worse - and he was finally getting a little worried.

He went to training with his team and the same thing happened, only stronger. His heart suddenly sped up, thumping so loudly…