For Carlos, the pressure followed him everywhere.
At work, he worried about making mistakes.
On the drive home, he mentally reviewed upcoming bills.
During dinner, he sometimes struggled to concentrate because he was calculating expenses in his head.
Even when the family sat together watching television, his thoughts remained somewhere else.
His phone became a constant companion.
He checked messages from work, reviewed banking information, and searched for opportunities to earn additional income.
At night, after Elena and Mateo were asleep, he sometimes sat alone in the kitchen.
The house was quiet, but his mind was not.
He thought about the life he had imagined providing for his family.
He remembered promises he had made to himself when Mateo was born.
He wanted his son to grow up feeling secure, confident, and free to pursue his dreams.
He wanted Elena to have more time for herself.
He wanted their family to enjoy holidays without calculating every expense.
