Treated Like Dirt in Their Home

She Cleaned Their House — They Treated Her Like Dirt She cleaned their house every single

day in Phoenix, Arizona, long before the sun came up. She scrubbed floors

until her knees burned and her fingers cracked from chemicals. She folded laundry that wasn’t hers

and cooked meals she was never allowed to taste. She lived in the small room behind

the garage with no heater and a broken light. She reminded herself daily that this

job was better than sleeping in her car. She told herself to be grateful,

even when gratitude hurt. She was never called by her name. She was called “girl,”

“hey you,” or simply ignored. She learned to move quietly so she wouldn’t upset anyone.