He thought his employee was going to a warm house, but he found her sleeping on a bench in the rain. When he saw the three pale faces she was hiding under her coat, his life of luxury crumbled in an instant.

But the biggest change happened that night, on the apartment balcony. The rain had stopped and the sky was clear, full of stars. Don Geraldo was there, smoking his pipe, looking out at the city.

“Son,” said the old man without turning around. “I went hungry when I was young. I know what it’s like to have a stomachache. But I was never alone. There was always a helping hand.”

Caio approached and leaned on the railing. “We almost lost them, Dad. If you hadn’t insisted on walking…”

“But we walked,” Geraldo said, looking him in the eye. “The important thing is that when you looked, you really saw. Many look, Caio, but few see. Money can blind you if you’re not careful.”

A few days later, Livia entered Caio’s office in the house. The babies were napping, cared for by a nurse Caio had hired to help her while she recovered. Livia was no longer wearing her uniform. She had on clean, new clothes, and although her eyes still showed weariness, the terror was gone.

“Mr. Caio…” he began, his voice trembling.

—Please, Livia, sit down. And call me Caio.

“I don’t know how to thank you. You’ve given me my life back. Not just mine, but theirs too. I thought God had forgotten me on that bench.”