I gave 100 euros to a young woman who was asking for milk for her baby; a month later I found out who she really was.

Because of the cruelty.

“You could have said no,” I told him. “No one was forcing you to help her. But why humiliate her?”

—Because someone has to tell them things as they are.

—And do you know what they’re like?

—A young woman with a  baby asking for money in a supermarket. You don’t need to investigate too much.

—Exactly.

Alberto is laughing.

—You always want to save everyone.

That phrase hurt me because years before he had admired me precisely for that.

When our children were small, I helped out at a neighborhood association. Alberto cooked with me on weekends.

Now he seemed to be ashamed of anyone who needed help.

Several days passed.

I once thought about Lucia and the  baby , but then life went on.

Until exactly four weeks later.

It was Wednesday.

Alberto had a very important meeting with a group of investors. His company was going through a difficult time that he had tried to hide from me.

He had lost two big contracts.

One project was behind schedule.

And it needed funding to keep employees and suppliers up to date.

He left that morning feeling nervous.

At half past eleven I received a call.