Vincent put down his newspaper and folded his hands, giving his son his full attention. “Why do people have to be poor, Dad?” Elliot asked, his voice tinged with genuine curiosity. Vincent paused, taken aback by the depth of his son’s question. He thought for a moment before answering. “It’s a complicated world, Elliot. Sometimes it’s about opportunities, or lack thereof. Sometimes it’s about choices. But it’s also about circumstances that people can’t control.”
Elliot nodded thoughtfully, his young mind processing his father’s words. “So, can we help them?” he asked earnestly. Vincent smiled, pride swelling in his chest. “We do what we can. That’s why the foundation exists. But there’s always more to be done. We just have to keep trying.”
Their morning continued as usual, with laughter and stories. Neither of them knew that this would be the last normal morning they would share for a while. That afternoon, while playing at school, Elliot had collapsed unexpectedly. An ambulance rushed him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with an unknown condition that left the doctors baffled.
The days turned into weeks of uncertainty and fear. The best medical professionals attempted every known procedure to no avail. Vincent watched helplessly as his vibrant son lay motionless, surrounded by machines keeping him alive. He was a man who had built empires, yet he felt powerless in the face of his son’s suffering.
