He remembered Elena singing exaggerated versions of familiar songs while preparing breakfast.
He remembered evenings when all three of them would sit together and invent ridiculous stories.
Those memories were still close enough to feel real, yet increasingly distant from the family's everyday routine.
Mateo sometimes tried to bring that happiness back.
He showed Carlos pictures he had drawn at school.
He asked Elena to watch him perform silly dances.
He invented jokes that made little sense.
His parents usually responded kindly, but their attention was often divided.
Carlos might smile while continuing to look at his phone.
Elena might praise a drawing while mentally planning the following day's responsibilities.
They were not intentionally ignoring him.
They simply did not realize how often the worries of adulthood had begun to occupy the space where family enjoyment used to exist.
One evening, Mateo asked his mother a question.
"Mom, why is Dad always thinking?"
