His concern was justified when, three days later, Lupita asked to speak with him. «Mr. Alejandro, I received a job offer.»

Alejandro’s heart raced. «What kind of offer?»

«To work as a therapeutic companion for the Gutierrez family. They offered… well, they offered much more than what I earn here.»

«Do you want to accept?»

Lupita was silent for a long moment. «Mr. Alejandro, I don’t know what to do. The money would make a huge difference for my family. My mom could stop working at night. My brother could dedicate himself only to his studies. But I can’t imagine leaving Mateo. He has become… he has become very important to me.»

«And you have become very important to him, too.»

«I know, and that’s what’s tearing me apart. I have obligations to my family, but I also feel responsible for Mateo.»

Alejandro thought carefully before answering. «Lupita, I’m not going to try to influence your decision, but I can ask you a few questions.»

«Of course.»

«Are you happy working here?»

«Very happy.»

«Do you feel like you have opportunities for growth here, with the physical therapy course I am paying for?»

«Yes.»

«And Mateo, how do you think he would react if you left?»

Lupita sighed. «He would be devastated. Just yesterday, he was talking about the plans we have for when he can run without crutches.»

«So, what is your real doubt?»

«The money, Mr. Alejandro. My family needs it very much.»

Alejandro nodded. «I understand. How much did they offer you?»

Lupita said the amount, and Alejandro was surprised. It was a truly significant sum. «Lupita, can I make a counteroffer?»

«What do you mean?»

«I can match the salary they offered, in addition to keeping the benefits we already have. The physical therapy course, the health insurance, and I can include health insurance for your mom and your brother too.»

Lupita’s eyes widened. «Mr. Alejandro, you don’t have to.»

«Yes, I do. Mateo needs you, and you deserve to be valued for the exceptional work you do.»

«But that’s a lot of money.»

«Lupita, you saved my marriage and helped me reconnect with my son. What is that worth?»

Lupita started to cry. «Mr. Alejandro, I don’t know what to say.»

«Say you’re going to stay.»

«I’m going to stay. Of course I’m going to stay.»

That afternoon, Mateo was playing in the garden when he saw Lupita tidying up her things. He ran to her, worried. «Aunt Lupita, are you leaving?»

«No, my love. I’m staying here with you.»

«Forever?»

«For a long, long time.»

Mateo hugged Lupita tightly. «That’s good, because I still have a lot of things to learn from you. And when I can run, I’m going to run to you every day.»

«And I’ll be here waiting, my warrior.»

A few weeks later, something happened that no one expected. Mateo was doing his morning exercises when he achieved something extraordinary. He ran. It wasn’t many meters, but it was a few consecutive steps at a faster speed than walking.

«Dad! Aunt Lupita! I ran!» Mateo shouted, beaming with joy.

Alejandro and Lupita ran to him, excited. «Mateo, that was incredible!» Alejandro said, hugging his son.

«My warrior became an athlete,» said Lupita, hugging him too.

«It hurt, but now I can play with the other kids on equal terms!»

«Yes, you can, my love. You can do anything you want.»

That night, Alejandro reflected on everything that had happened in the last few months. He had almost lost his family because of work, but a dedicated housekeeper had saved not only his son but the entire family dynamic.

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A few months later, the day of Mateo’s preschool graduation arrived. It was a special event where the children would show their skills and talents. Alejandro had canceled all his commitments to be present.

«Dad, are you sure you can come?» Mateo asked the morning of the graduation.

«I’m absolutely sure, champion. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.»

«And is Aunt Lupita going to be there too?»

«Of course she is. We are your official cheer squad.»

At the school, Mateo was nervous. He had prepared a special presentation where he would show how he had overcome his motor difficulties. «Aunt Lupita, what if I fall in front of everyone?» he asked as he got ready.

«Mateo, you have fallen many times during our training, and you have always gotten up. If you fall today, you’ll also get up. But I bet you’re not going to fall.»

«Why are you so sure?»

«Because you are the most determined child I know, and because you trained a lot for this moment.»

When it was Mateo’s turn to present, he walked to the center of the stage without his crutches. The audience was silent, realizing that this was something special.

«My name is Mateo Hernandez,» he began in a firm voice. «When I was younger, I couldn’t walk well. I needed crutches, and I was afraid to try new things.»

Alejandro and Gabriela were emotional in the audience. Lupita was by their side, equally moved.

«But then I met someone very special,» Mateo continued. «Aunt Lupita taught me that when you train and don’t give up, you can achieve anything. She taught me to be strong, to be brave, and to believe in myself.»

Mateo then did something that surprised everyone. He ran from one end of the stage to the other—without stumbling, without hesitating, with perfect balance.

«I want to dedicate this race to three people,» Mateo said, out of breath but smiling. «To my dad, who learned to be my best friend; to my mom, who always took care of me; and to Aunt Lupita, who taught me that I can fly if I want to.»

The audience erupted in applause. Alejandro was openly crying, as were Gabriela and Lupita.

«And now,» Mateo continued, «I want to show you something I learned. Aunt Lupita, come here!»

Lupita was surprised, but Mateo called her to the stage. «This is Lupita,» Mateo told the audience. «She is the most important person in my life after my parents. She believed in me when I didn’t even believe in myself. And I want to tell everyone that she is the best teacher in the world.»

Mateo hugged Lupita on stage, and the audience gave them a standing ovation. Alejandro and Gabriela also went up to the stage to hug Mateo and Lupita.

«Dad,» Mateo said, still on stage, «can you tell everyone something?»

«What’s that?»

«That Aunt Lupita isn’t just our employee anymore. She’s our family.»

Alejandro took the microphone. «My son is right,» he said with an emotional voice. «Lupita is not just our employee; she is part of our family. She saved my son, she saved my marriage, and she taught me what really matters in life.»

The audience applauded again, and Lupita was crying with emotion. After the presentation, several people from the school approached Alejandro and Gabriela to congratulate Mateo and to meet Lupita. Many parents of children with special needs wanted to know about the method she used.

«You should think about opening a therapy center,» one of the mothers suggested. «There are many children who could benefit from Lupita’s work.»

Alejandro looked at Lupita, who was animatedly talking with other mothers about exercises and motivational techniques. «You know, Gabriela,» he said to his wife, «maybe that’s not a bad idea.»

«What do you mean?»

«A therapy center specializing in children, with Lupita as the coordinator after she graduates.»

«Would you invest in that?»

«I would. And do you know why? Because I saw firsthand how her work can transform the life of a child and an entire family.»

That night at home, Alejandro called Lupita to talk. «Lupita, can I ask you a crazy question?»

«Of course, Mr. Alejandro.»

«Would you like to have your own therapy center someday?»

Lupita laughed. «Mr. Alejandro, that’s too big of a dream for someone like me.»

«Why do you say that?»

«Because opening a therapy center requires a lot of money, a lot of knowledge, a lot of experience. I’m still learning.»

«What if I told you that I’m willing to invest in that dream?»

Lupita stopped smiling. «What do you mean?»

«I’m thinking of opening a therapy center for children with special needs, a place where every child receives the same kind of attention and care that you gave Mateo. And I would like you to be the therapeutic director.»

«Mr. Alejandro, are you being completely serious?»

«Of course. You would have to finish your university degree first, maybe get some specializations, but the project can develop little by little. And Mateo would continue to be your priority. In fact, he could be a kind of ambassador for the center, showing other children that it is possible to overcome difficulties.»

Lupita was silent for a long moment. «Mr. Alejandro, if this really happens, it would be the biggest dream of my life coming true.»

«Then let’s make it happen.»

Two years later, the «Luz de Esperanza» (Light of Hope) Children’s Therapy Center was being inaugurated. It was a modern, colorful place with state-of-the-art equipment and a team of professionals. Lupita, now a graduate in physical therapy with specializations in pediatrics, was the therapeutic director.

Mateo, now six years old and running normally, was at the inauguration as a special guest. He had become the symbol of the center, inspiring other children with his story of overcoming challenges.

«Aunt Lupita,» Mateo said, running to her on the day of the inauguration, «You did it! You have your own place to help children!»

«We did it, my warrior. And do you know who inspired me to never give up?»

«Who?»

«A brave little boy who taught me that when you believe and work hard, dreams come true.»

Alejandro watched the scene with pride. His company now had a new focus. In addition to traditional business, he had created a social responsibility division that supported projects like the therapy center.

«Alejandro,» Gabriela said, approaching him, «Do you regret anything?»

«I regret taking so long to understand what really matters, but I don’t regret anything we did after I learned the lesson.»

«And what was the lesson?»

«That sometimes the most important people in our lives arrive unexpectedly, and that love and dedication are worth more than any amount of money.»

Mateo ran toward his parents, radiant with joy. «Dad, Mom, did you see how many kids came today? Aunt Lupita said she’s going to help them all get strong like me.»

«Yes, we saw, son. And do you know what the best part is?»

«What?»

«It’s that all of this started because one special person decided to believe in you when you needed it most.»

Mateo smiled and looked at Lupita, who was talking to the parents of other children. «Dad, can I tell you a secret?»

«Of course.»

«I always knew that Aunt Lupita was special. From the very first day, I felt that she was going to change our lives.»

«And how did you know?»

«Because she looked at me as if I were normal, not as if I were broken. She looked at me as if I could achieve anything.»

Alejandro smiled, realizing that his son, even at such a young age, had understood something that had taken him, as an adult, so long to understand: that the true value of a person is not in what they have, but in what they are capable of giving to others.

A few months after the Center’s inauguration, Alejandro received an unexpected call. It was from Enrique Gutierrez, the businessman who had tried to hire Lupita away years earlier.

«Alejandro, I need to talk to you.»

«About what, Enrique?»

«About the therapy center you opened. My grandson has been a patient there for three months.»

«Oh, really? And how has he been doing?»

«That’s why I’m calling. It’s extraordinary, Alejandro. In three months, my grandson has made progress he didn’t achieve in two years of traditional therapy.»

Alejandro smiled. «Lupita really is exceptional.»

«It’s more than that. Her whole team is different. They don’t treat children like patients; they treat them as unique and special human beings. My grandson is happy for the first time since the accident.»

«I’m very glad to hear that.»

«Alejandro, I need to apologize.»

«Why?»

«For trying to take Lupita from you years ago. Back then, I only saw her as a skilled employee. I didn’t understand that she was part of your family, that there was a much deeper connection. I understand now that she was in the right place with the right people. If I had managed to hire her back then, maybe she never would have had the opportunity to develop as she did with you.»

«Maybe.»

«Anyway, I wanted to thank you for not letting me make that mistake, and I wanted to congratulate you for seeing her potential before any of us did.»