Elena stood near the large marble sink with her head down low.
The hot water ran over her hands as she washed the heavy crystal glasses.
She had worked for the rich family for nearly six long months.
Every morning started before the sun came up over the quiet suburban neighborhood.
She scrubbed the floors until her knees felt bruised and tired.
The mansion was massive with ten bedrooms and marble hallways.
Yet it felt colder than a winter night to young Elena.
She had taken this job because her mother needed expensive medication back home.
The high pay was the only thing keeping her mother safe right now.
So Elena swallowed her pride every time Victoria yelled at her.
Victoria was the high-strung stepmother of the young boy living in the house.
She wore expensive black dresses and carried a wine glass everywhere she went.
She loved to find small mistakes just to yell at Elena loudly.
A tiny spot on a glass was enough to start an hour of harsh insults.
Elena always kept her head down and said nothing back to her boss.
She knew that losing this job meant losing her mother's vital care.
On this bright sunny morning, the light flooded through the pristine kitchen windows.
The white cabinets shone perfectly under the bright halogen light fixtures.
An American flag hung neatly inside a frame on the dining room wall nearby.
Everything looked peaceful and standard to anyone watching from the outside world.
But inside Elena's heart, a heavy storm was growing bigger every second.
Victoria walked into the sunlit room with her leather shoes clicking on the tile floor.
She glared down at the sink where Elena was scrubbing a greasy baking pan.
Victoria: You are moving far too slow this morning, girl.
Elena: I am working as fast as I can, ma'am.
Victoria: Do not backtalk me in my own home!
Elena closed her eyes and let out a soft trembling breath.
She felt the warm tears starting to spill down her tired cheeks.
She just wanted to get through the shift without another massive fight.
Little did she know that today would be different than the rest.