His mother did the same, and they sat in silence. He couldn't bear to look at her and focused on her folded hands on the table. Juan couldn't remember the last time he held her hand.

"Juan, I know you think I'm being hard on you right now, but you're already an adult now, and your father and I are not getting any younger," she said as she placed a hand on his. "We're just worried about your future."

"Is there something wrong with your health?" he asked.

Why else would she suddenly bring up their age?