Then, once she realized I wasn’t going to interrupt her, the story came out.
It had started with small things.
Patricia complained that Sofia used too much shampoo. Teresa said she left lights on unnecessarily. Bianca accused her of borrowing clothes she had never touched.
At first, I thought they were ordinary household disagreements.
But the complaints became rules.
Sofia was expected to clean the kitchen after everyone else finished eating. She had to wash the dishes, sweep the floors, and collect laundry from the bedrooms.
If she didn’t finish before bedtime, Patricia took away her phone.
If she argued, Teresa told her she was ungrateful.
If Bianca wanted something, Sofia was expected to give it to her.
“She takes my clothes,” Sofia said. “Sometimes she takes my shoes. If I ask for them back, she says I’m selfish.”
“What happens when you refuse?”
“She tells Patricia.”
“And Patricia believes her?”
