My name is Santiago, and if someone had told me that I would become an angel, I would probably have laughed nervously. But somehow this story is real - and it's not like any fairy tale. It was a profound transformation, marked by a change of soul that made me see the world in a completely different way.
I grew up in Asunción, a place where the quiet rhythm of the streets blends with the vibrant energy of the Paraguayan people. Afternoons were marked by the aroma of tereré and the sounds of conversations in Spanish and Guaraní. Like many Paraguayans, I have always carried with me the richness of our culture: the pride in our history, the passion for traditions, and the simplicity of a life connected to nature and human relationships. But as much as the world around me was full of life, something inside me was always missing. I lived the routine - I woke up, worked as an advertising executive, spent my days surrounded by screens and meetings, but the emptiness seemed to grow as time went by.
I decided to get away from the hustle and bustle of Asunción and went to the city of Encarnación, on the banks of the Paraná River, a place known for its tranquillity and its Jesuit ruins full of history. It was exactly the kind of place I thought I needed to clear my head. During a lonely afternoon near one of the ruins, I came across an elderly man sitting on the riverbank with a serene presence. His eyes seemed to hide secrets and his expression, although calm, was profound.
"You're lost, Santiago. But not for long," he said, before I'd even said a word.
I was stunned. How did he know my name? How did he know what I felt? He smiled mysteriously, but something in his gaze told me that he was no ordinary person. Then, without hesitation, he held out his hand, and something inside me pushed me to take it.
When I touched his hand, I felt a current of energy run through my body, as if I were being consumed by something greater. The sky became more intense, and the wind coming from Paraná seemed stronger, more... significant. My mind was invaded by memories and feelings of past moments. And then, as if everything fell into place, I realized what was happening. For so long, I had been looking for something outside of myself - success, recognition, even love. But the real transformation came from within, from understanding that goodness is not a search for reward, but something that is done out of love, out of compassion, without expecting anything in return.
Suddenly, my back burned with intense pain. I looked back and saw my wings - big, black, with blue tips shining with a light of their own, as if they were reflecting the sky at dawn. At the same moment, my body was marked by tattoos that seemed to tell my story: symbols of wisdom, of balance, of protection. The tattoos on my skin were proof of what I had lived through - of the choices I had made and the lessons I had learned.
The man disappeared. The transformation had already taken place. I, Santiago, now had the mission of being something more than just an ordinary man. I was an angel, but not an angel with great or mystical powers. I was someone who, instead of waiting for salvation, had to be salvation for others. I had understood that the true mission of a human being - or someone like me - was to help others, without interest or vanity. And this learning, this true enlightenment, is what made me deserve to be what I am now.
I returned to Asunción, but now, with every step I took, I felt the weight of the wings on my back and the meaning of the tattoos I was wearing. They were not symbols of power or prestige, but of a life lived with the intention of doing good, of helping and of being a light to those who were still lost, as I had been.
In the end, it was the realization that, however much life is made up of mistakes, searching and even pain, there is always room for compassion, for doing good without expecting anything in return. As a Paraguayan, I learned that my culture, with all its richness and simplicity, prepared me to be something more - not just for myself, but for the world.
Now, I continue my journey, helping those who need a helping hand, knowing that true transformation is what happens within us. And every time I look at the horizon, I remember the Paraná River and the lesson I learned - that the greatest power comes from a life lived with honesty, compassion and love for others.
