SARAHI stood in the kitchen, chopping vegetables while Maria worked beside me, stirring a pot on the stove. Since the incident with Marco, Maria and I had grown close. Her steady presence was a comfort in this twisted world.“Maria,” I started, glancing at her. “You’ve been working for Marco for a while, right?”Maria nodded, her eyes focused on the simmering soup. “Yes, it’s been almost five years now.”“Why did you take the job?” I asked, genuinely curious. “I mean, working for someone like Marco… it can’t be easy.”Maria smiled wistfully. “It’s a long story, Sarah. But if you’re really interested, I’ll tell you.”I set the knife down and turned to face her, eager to hear more. “I’d love to know. Please, tell me.”Maria took a deep breath, her hands never stopping their work. “I grew up in a small village, far from the city. We were poor, but my parents did their best to provide for us. I had three younger siblings, and I helped take care of them.”I listened intently, picturing a
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