December 31st, 2014.
The last day of a year that had changed everything.
Mateo stood in front of the mirror in his old room at Casa de los Niños, adjusting the collar of his shirt. It was a simple outfit dark jeans, a crisp white button-down, a navy blazer but he wanted to look nice. Tonight was special.
Isabella had planned everything, insisting that they needed to mark the occasion properly. "It's not every day you get to celebrate the end of the most incredible year of your life," she had said with a smile.
There was a soft knock on the door, and Don Carlos poked his head in. "Ready, mijo?"
Mateo nodded, signing, "As ready as I'll ever be."
Don Carlos stepped into the room, his eyes warm with affection. "You look good. Grown up. It's hard to believe you're the same scared little boy who showed up here all those years ago."
"Sometimes I can't believe it either," Mateo signed. "It feels like a dream."
