The morning sun poured through the massive glass windows of the grand Hudson estate, casting bright light across the polished white marble floors. From the outside, the gated estate looked like a palace of peace and success. A large American flag hung proudly on the high wall of the foyer, snapping gently in the breeze coming through the open side vents. But inside those tall, cold walls, life was anything but peaceful for Sarah and her daughter Elena. They worked from sunrise until late at night just to keep the home spotless. Sarah had given thirty years of her life to the family, working as a maid long before the new mistress arrived. Her back was bent from years of hard work, and her hands were rough and dry. Elena, who was only twenty-two, worked right beside her mother every day to help protect her from harsh treatment.
Victoria, the new wife of the late home owner, walked down the sweeping curved staircase wearing a sharp beige designer dress. Her heels clicked loudly against the clean floor, sounding like heavy iron hitting stone. She held a cold expression on her face as she looked around for any tiny speck of dust. She hated Sarah because Sarah remembered the old days when the home was full of love and kindness. Victoria wanted to erase the past completely and rule the estate with absolute control. She looked down at the bucket of water near the entrance and tapped her expensive shoe on the ground with deep annoyance.
Victoria: Sarah! Why is this water still standing here? Are you blind?
Sarah: I am sorry, Victoria. I was just fetching fresh clean towels for the guest rooms upstairs.
Victoria: Do not use my first name! You call me ma'am, you lazy old fool.
Elena: She is working as fast as she can, ma'am. Please do not yell at her.
Victoria: Nobody asked for your opinion, girl. Get back to scrubbing the baseboards right now.
Sarah picked up the heavy wooden mop with her trembling, thin fingers. Her knees throbbed with deep pain from standing on the cold marble for five hours without a break. She dipped the mop into the soapy water and tried her best to wipe down the long hallway entrance. But her weak arm slipped, and a few drops of dirty water splashed across the toe of Victoria's high-heeled shoe. Victoria gasped in fake horror and stepped back, her face turning dark with instant rage.
Victoria: Look at what you did to my shoe! These cost more than you make in an entire year!
Sarah: It was an accident! I will wipe it off right now with a clean cloth!
Victoria: Touch me with your dirty hands and I will make sure you starve on the streets!
Elena rushed over with a dry towel, dropping to her knees to wipe the small spot off the floor. But Victoria was not satisfied with an apology. She wanted to show her power over the defenseless women. She snatched the heavy wooden mop handle directly out of Sarah's hands. The wooden pole was solid and thick, made of heavy ash wood. Victoria raised it high above her head without a single second of hesitation.
Victoria: You need to learn how to clean properly, you useless old parasite!
Sarah: Please, no! My back is bad!
Victoria brought the hard wooden pole down with full force. The heavy impact echoed through the vast foyer as the wood struck Sarah's shoulder. The poor old woman let out a sharp cry of agony and fell sideways onto the hard marble floor. Victoria raised the handle again, her eyes wide with unhinged anger as she prepared to strike the defenseless woman a second time right under the shadow of the flag hanging above them.