My children abandoned us on the deserted road… little imagining the secret I was hiding…

When we walked out, the air became lighter – clean and new.

We returned to the farmhouse where the kind woman lived and handed her an envelope. “This is for you,” I said.

“To fix your roof and your fridge. You helped us when no one else would.” She covered her mouth, tears in her eyes. “I only did what anyone should do.”

“That’s exactly why,” I smiled. “Because almost no one does.”

That afternoon, Manuel and I walked hand in hand under the gentle sun. We weren’t rich and we didn’t need to be. We were free.