The Price

​The girl had been lying in the road motionless for thirty-nine seconds at the instant that Raul knelt down and gingerly touched her shoulder.

She was conscious but grimacing with pain. She had forgotten her name. A trickle of crimson ran from her ear. The driver remained in his car, hands still on the wheel, trembling.

Raul stayed with her until the paramedics arrived.

At the hospital, Raul sat in the waiting area until he heard that she had died.

One week later, her parents sued him for her death. The price of helping a stranger.

The price of caring.