The words hit him like a punch to the chest.
Richard dropped to his knees right there on the soaked street.
“Hey… hey… I’m here… it’s okay…”
He looked at the woman. Pale face. Shaking body. One hand gripping her stomach.
“What’s your name?” he asked, trying to stay calm.
“Clara…” she whispered weakly.
“Clara, listen to me… you’re going to be okay…”
But deep down… he knew it wouldn’t be that simple.
“Daniel! Call an ambulance—NOW!” he shouted to his driver.
The little girl, still gripping his hand, spoke softly:
“My name is Lily…”
Richard looked at her.
Those big eyes… filled with fear… but also hope.
And something inside him—something that had been asleep for decades—shifted.
“Lily… you were very brave.”
She held his hand tighter.
“I asked God to send someone…”
Richard swallowed hard.
It had been years—years—since he thought about God.
Years since he believed in anything beyond money, contracts, and numbers.
But right there… on that cold sidewalk… a five-year-old girl was making him question everything.
A sharp cry interrupted his thoughts.
Clara arched her body in pain.
“There’s no time!” Daniel yelled, returning with his phone. “The ambulance is delayed!”
Richard looked around.
Empty street.
Rain falling.