I stopped to help a woman who was dy//ing on the side of the road and lost my job because I arrived late, but when I returned to collect my things from my desk, my entire life was about to change.

There was the mortgage, car payment, insurance, school tuition, and ordinary household expenses.

I couldn’t afford months of uncertainty while searching for the perfect opportunity.

I needed income.

Quickly.

I began updating my résumé from the diner booth.

Half an hour passed.

Then my phone rang.

The agency’s number appeared.

I ignored it.

The second call went unanswered too.

Then a message arrived.

CHRIS, PLEASE ANSWER.

It was Nina, our receptionist.

I called her back.

“What?”

“Where are you?”

“Why?”

“You need to come back.”

“No.”

“I’m serious.”

“So was Gavin.”

“Chris, listen to me.”

Something about her lowered voice made me uneasy.

“What happened?”

“There’s a woman here.”

“What woman?”

“She says you helped her this morning.”

I sat straighter.

The sounds of the diner seemed to disappear.

“She’s okay?”

“Yes.”

I released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

“Good.”