{"id":22482,"date":"2025-12-05T13:26:23","date_gmt":"2025-12-05T13:26:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=22482"},"modified":"2025-12-05T13:26:23","modified_gmt":"2025-12-05T13:26:23","slug":"22482","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readmore.cx\/?p=22482","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"

She had been up since 5:00 AM. First, it was the laundry\u2014folding sheets that were too big for her arms. Then, it was weeding the garden under the morning sun until her skin turned pink and tender. Now, the floors.<\/p>\n

Her stomach gave a hollow, painful growl. She hadn\u2019t eaten since a slice of toast at dawn.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan I\u2026\u201d Ella\u2019s voice trembled. She stopped scrubbing for a second, looking up at the woman who loomed over her life like a dark cloud. \u201cCan I please have a drink?\u201d<\/p>\n

Margaret set the glass down. The sound was sharp. \u201cHave you finished the square by the fridge?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ella looked at the fridge. It was ten feet away. It felt like ten miles. \u201cNo, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThen you haven\u2019t earned a break. Soldiers don\u2019t take breaks until the mission is done, Ella. Your father is a soldier. Do you think he stops fighting just because he\u2019s thirsty?\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cNo, Ma\u2019am.\u201d<\/p>\n

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She had been up since 5:00 AM. First, it was the laundry\u2014folding sheets that were too big for her arms. Then, it was weeding the garden under the morning sun until her skin turned pink and tender. Now, the floors. Her stomach gave a hollow, painful growl. She hadn\u2019t eaten since a slice of toast…<\/p>\n

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