At the hospital, Richard sat with Ethan in the waiting room, thinking about all the employees he’d never met, the lives he’d never touched. This was an opportunity to change that, he realized.

Hours later, a doctor approached them, her expression serious but not grim. “Maria is stable,” she said, addressing Ethan first. “She’ll need to stay here for observation, but she’s going to be okay.”

Ethan’s relief was palpable, a weight lifted from his small shoulders. He hugged Richard tightly, a gesture of gratitude that spoke volumes more than words.

Richard promised Ethan he would make sure everything was taken care of, from hospital bills to ensuring Maria’s work conditions were supportive when she returned.