Yet somewhere along the way, he had started measuring his success almost entirely through financial results.
If the bank balance improved, he felt relieved.
If an unexpected expense appeared, he felt defeated.
If he could not afford something he wanted to provide, he felt inadequate.
He had begun treating happiness as a reward that could only be enjoyed after every responsibility had been fulfilled.
But responsibilities never truly ended.
There was always something else to repair, purchase, organize, or pay.
He thought about Mateo.
His son had not waited for better circumstances before enjoying the afternoon.
He had not asked whether the family could afford happiness.
He had used a few toy cars, some pillows, and his imagination.
And with those simple materials, he had created a memory more valuable than many things Carlos had spent money trying to provide.
For the first time, Carlos understood that being a good father involved more than working hard.
