Matt woke up on the sofa for the second morning in a row, feeling out of place and a little sad. He couldn't explain exactly why, but he missed sleeping next to Lauren, sharing those moments of closeness they used to have, even if they often exchanged barbs.

Throughout the day, he wandered around the house, dodging questions from his mother and siblings.

Towards the middle of the afternoon, Matt noticed that Dominique was playing alone in the yard with his superhero action figures. He approached the little one, smiling.

—Hey, Dom! How are you today?

Dominique looked at Matt, her eyes shining with joy.

—Matty! Beach, beach!

Matt frowned, surprised by Dominique's sudden request.

—Beach? But haven't you had a bath today, little boy?

Dominique made a sad face, her little eyes were almost pleading.

—Matty, please! Will you take me and Wauen to the beach to play in the water?

Matt looked at Dominique, seeing the hope and excitement in the little one's eyes. He sighed, feeling unable to deny such a sincere request.

—It's okay, Dom. I'll take you and your sister to play on the beach. But just for a little while, okay?

Dominique jumped for joy, skipping across the lawn, before running towards the door, calling Lauren.

—Wauen, Matty's taking us both to the beach! Come on!

—Beach?!

Lauren looked at Matt with surprise and curiosity, but ended up smiling when she saw him laugh and shrug, agreeing to accompany them.

So the three of them set off for the beach, albeit with some resistance from the Harrison brothers' mother, who only gave in when the two teenagers promised to bathe Dominique when they got back.

When they got there, the little blond-haired boy ran out in front of the older ones, who immediately chased after him.

—Dominique, don't run!- Lauren shouted, before choking on her breath as she tripped over a pile of sand.

Instinctively, she closed her eyes waiting for the crash, but, contrary to what she had imagined, what she felt were two firm arms around her waist.

Her eyes met Matthew's, who kept a serious expression on his face, half-awake and panting.

—Matty, sissy!- Dominique called out, throwing his toys on the floor and snapping the other two out of their weird trance.

—You can let me go now.- she laughed nervously.

A mischievous smile appeared on Matt's face as he released her and threw her onto the sand.

—Matthew! I hate you, you know that?

—Tell me something new!- he laughed, approaching the little boy and sitting down next to him.

Later, when Dom had had enough of playing at making forts and castles, Lauren decided to go into the sea with him, while Matt remained seated, looking after the bags and toys. He couldn't help thinking how attentive she was to his little brother, how big her smile got when she was near him.

As the sun set over the horizon, they returned home. Together, they helped Dominique shower, laughing and joking throughout the process. It was a lovely scene, full of affection and complicity, putting aside for a moment the problems they were having. It was incredible how that child could soothe their problems and leave everything as it was before.

Afterwards, Lauren prepared popcorn for the three of them and, together, they snuggled up on the sofa in the living room to watch a movie.

—What movie do you want to see tonight, little man?- Matt asked, slipping his arm around Dom's shoulders.

—Toy Story!- he exclaimed, clapping his hands and wiggling his feet excitedly.

—All right, cutie!- his sister smiled, looking for the movie on the television.

Towards the end of the film, when Andy was about to donate his much-loved toys to a new child, Matthew noticed that Dominique was almost asleep on Lauren's lap, who had been asleep for some time.

He couldn't ignore the special connection they shared and the tightness in his chest when he saw how caring and loving she was with his brother. In that moment of respite, he felt flooded with a sense of peace and happiness.

As the film continued, Matt realized that the answer to his worries and longings might lie deeper than he could control.

But for now, Matt decided to enjoy these moments with the girl, knowing that in time he would have to face his own fears and reveal what he really felt, even if he knew he would be rejected.

And so, together, they fell asleep on the sofa, with the movie credits rolling, close in an affectionate union and full of promises for the future that the universe had in store for them.

•••