By 11:30, Marilena and her co-workers arrive at Ms. Correia's house. It looks unchanged from the outside, a sturdy building in a quiet, tree-lined street. But Marilena knows what waits inside. She knows the workers have already finished their cleaning, the dust swept away, the protective coverings removed from furniture and floors. The room is ready to be revealed.
They step inside, greeted by the muted scent of fresh paint mingled with polished wood. The hallway is quiet, echoing with their footsteps as they make their way toward the bedroom. Marilena can almost hear her own heartbeat.
