In time, I got another job, one that lifted me back on my feet. Kathy and I barely speak now, the bond between us fractured by betrayal. But I walked away with a lesson that no job could teach: kindness has value, and it should never be taken for granted. Helping others is part of who I am, but now I know that true family is measured not by words, but by respect for the sacrifices we make for each other.