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Lita drove herself and Mateo back to the hospital, a goofy grin lighting up her face throughout the journey. The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting long shadows across the city as they navigated the familiar streets. Mateo, sensing his sister's unusually cheerful mood , arched an eyebrow.

"Why are you so happy?" he asked, raising his brows inquisitively.

Lita chuckled, her eyes flickering with a different kind of joy. "What's wrong with being happy?" she replied with a nonchalant shrug.

Mateo twiddled his thumbs, observing his sister. "You look... a different kind of happy," he observed.

"Well... I guess I am," she replied, her laughter carrying a dry note.

Mateo smiled to himself, gazing out of the window at the passing city lights. The wind picked up, causing the trees to sway in an almost dance-like rhythm. Together, they exited the car, and Lita made sure to brush off any remaining sand, leaving behind the carefree moments they had shared on the beach.

The hospital loomed ahead, its antiseptic scent hitting them immediately—a stark departure from the salty sea air. They made their way through the familiar corridors, the buzzing of fluorescent lights overhead guiding them to Mateo's room.

As they approached the room, Lita couldn't shake off the residual happiness from their time at the beach. Opening the door, she watched as Mateo shuffled in, still in high spirits.

"Alright, little man, time for you to get some rest," Lita said, playfully ruffling his hair.

"Ok..." he whispered softly, his voice almost a mere breath.

Taking a seat on the armchair beside Mateo, Lita observed as he turned away, snuggling into his pillow. A ding from her phone disrupted the silence. Switching it on, the light momentarily blinded the dark room, but her eyes softened as she read Paul's good night text, eliciting a smile before she switched it off.

"Hey, Mateo..." Lita whispered, walking towards his bed and taking a seat on it.

"What?" Mateo said, turning over to face her with a groan.

"What do you think of Paul?"

"He's cool, I guess..." Mateo shrugged, "why, is he your boyfriend?" he said in a sing-song voice.

Lita laughed softly. "No, silly. He's just a friend. A really good friend, though."

Mateo propped himself up on his elbows, looking at his sister with a sly grin. "Uh-huh, sure. Friends don't make you smile like that."

Lita felt a blush creeping up her cheeks. "Well, he's leaving tomorrow. So, no time for any 'boyfriend' drama, okay?"

Mateo sighed dramatically. "Fine, fine. But he better come back to visit. He seems like a cool guy."

Lita tousled his hair gently. "Yeah, he does, doesn't he? Now, get some sleep, little man. Tomorrow's a new day."

As Lita sat there in the dimly lit room, she couldn't help but feel a mixture of emotions. The joy from the beach day, the bittersweet anticipation of Paul's departure, and the ever-present weight of Mateo's condition.

She leaned back in the chair, stealing a glance at her phone. Paul's message lingered on the screen, and a soft smile played on her lips.

The next day brought both relief and sadness as a nurse declared, "And it looks like you're all good to go!" after checking Mateo's heart.

"Forever?" he asked, excitement lighting up his face at the thought of not having to return.

"We'll see..." she replied, giving him a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Lita glanced toward her father, grateful that it was the weekend, and he'd finally be home with them. The hospital doors swung open, and Lita and Mateo happily skipped out, the sun casting a warm glow on the city. 

They began singing their favorite song, 'No Hay Marcha en Nueva York' by Mecano, the vibrant melody echoing against the cityscape. The two screamed the lyrics with no embarrassment as their father shook his head, a bemused smile playing on his lips.

"That's not the best song to be singing when we live in New York..."

"Mama liked this song, didn't she? Right, Lita?" Mateo asked, looking towards his sister as they got closer to their car.

"She did..." Lita nodded, her eyes briefly clouded with memories.

"Yet she still wanted to move here... Funny," Lita's dad said with a humorless laugh before pulling the driver's door open.

"Uh, uh, uh. I'm driving," Lita declared, placing her hands on her hips as Mateo slammed the backseat door.

"Whose car is this?" her dad asked sarcastically.

"Please! I love driving," Lita said, using her best sad eyes.

"How about this, you control the radio and get to keep living with me and Mateo," he suggested with a smile.

"Fine," Lita said, crossing her arms and walking to the other side of the car, a mischievous glint in her eyes. The car started with a purr, and the city lights began to twinkle as they drove away, leaving the hospital behind .

The loud jingle of her father's keys and the sound of the old lights buzzing as they turned on welcomed Lita back home.

"You guys hungry for lunch?" Lita's father asked as he walked into their kitchen, which was kept clean, a clear sign of it being unused.

"Starving!" Mateo exclaimed before grabbing the remote and laying down on the couch, surfing through the shows that played on their old TV.

Lita lifted up Mateo's legs before sitting below them and flicking on her phone. "Looks like we've got... leftover alfredo or pizza."

"Pizza!" Mateo instantly yelled back.

"You okay with that, mija?" her father asked.

"Mhm," she said, not really paying her father any mind.

"Oh cool! A rerun of Robots!" Mateo spoke excitedly.

"Who are you texting?" a voice suddenly appeared, making Lita jump, only to see the face of her father, who had a cheeky smile on his face.

"I—no one! Dad, don't do that!" Lita said, suddenly turning a bright red in embarrassment, attempting to hide her phone.

"Is it Paul? I bet it's Paul," Mateo said, not even sparing the pair a glance.

"You!-"

"Paul...? Who is Paul?" her dad asked with furrowed eyebrows.

"No one! He's just a friend."

"Oh, I see..." her dad said, narrowing his eyes and heading back into the kitchen, grabbing out plates.

"You know, if you're gonna text boys, at least text someone with a cool name," her dad said, making her roll her eyes.

"I mean, what kind of name is that? Sounds like the name of a dumbass. You need someone like that Darío Bernal! You like him, don't you?"

"Dad!" Lita exclaimed, her embarrassment only growing.

The three of them sat at the dining table, the low hum of the water heater blending with the movie Mateo had put on.

"How are you feeling, Chiquito?" Lita's dad asked, breaking the silence as they silently ate their cold pizza.

"Fine..." Mateo shrugged, a small yawn escaping him. "I'm a little tired, though."

"Alright, let's get you to bed," his father said with a warm smile, scooping Mateo up in his arms and eliciting a giggle from him with a playful monster sound. Together, they headed into Mateo and Lita's shared room.

Lita smiled, her eyes lingering on her half-eaten slice. Suddenly, her appetite vanished. The sound of the bedroom door closing softly drew her attention.

Her father sat down next to her, and the two of them continued to eat in companionable silence. Lita felt a growing urge to break the quiet tension. "Are you okay?" she finally asked.

He looked at her with a gentle expression. "Of course, are you?"

"Yes..." Lita replied, her smile softening.

"Oh, I almost forgot!" her dad exclaimed suddenly, breaking the quiet ambiance. He got up and headed toward the entrance of the house, grabbing something from where he had put his keys.

"Here," he said, handing her an envelope marked with her name.

Lita hesitantly opened the letter, wondering about its contents. Pulling out the piece of paper inside, she noticed gold edges tracing along it. In big, bold letters, the words read, 'You're invited to Maria Rosalés and Charlie Swan's wedding. '

Lita's face fell. "Forget them," she said, her frustration evident as she angrily threw the letter away. Without another word, she got up and stormed off to the bathroom, leaving her father sitting in contemplative silence.

Lita couldn't understand. Her mother was already practically married to the man. Why bother with a wedding, and to only invite Lita felt like an even bigger insult. The confusion and frustration swirled within her, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.