The bright sun shone brightly through the tall windows of the big luxury mansion on the edge of town. Everything inside was set up for a massive celebration that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. White flowers hung from the high ceilings, and silver plates rested on top of long tables covered in fresh white cloths. Victoria walked around the room in her dark yellow designer dress, checking every small detail to make sure everything looked perfect. She was marrying into one of the wealthiest families in the state, and she wanted everyone to notice her status. She demanded total perfection from every worker in the building because she believed her money made her better than everyone else working there today.
As the caterers set out the fine wine and delicate foods, an elderly woman stepped slowly through the side glass door. She sat quietly in a worn wooden wheelchair, her tired hands resting gently on her lap. Her clothes were simple and clean, but they were clearly old and faded compared to the shiny dresses worn by the rich guests arriving nearby. This was Eleanor, a kind woman who had spent her entire life working hard in quiet dignity. She looked around the giant ballroom with gentle eyes, watching the busy servants hurry around with trays of expensive food. Eleanor did not want to cause any trouble or ruin anyone's good time today. She just wanted to see the family one last time before her health grew any worse.
Victoria turned around and spotted Eleanor sitting near the edge of the large framed American flag hanging on the bright white wall. Her eyes narrowed into a fierce glare, and her warm smile vanished instantly from her face. She walked over to the wheelchair with heavy, angry footsteps, her high heels clicking loudly against the polished floor. She did not care that guests were beginning to trickle into the grand room to take their assigned seats. She felt an overwhelming surge of embarrassment and anger because an old woman in simple clothes was sitting inside her pristine ballroom space. Victoria believed that poor people had no right to share the same air as wealthy families who owned big property.
Victoria: What are you doing inside my building right now?
Eleanor: I only wanted to see the hall before the party starts.
Victoria: You do not belong here looking like a total mess.
Eleanor: Please child, I am not hurting anyone by sitting here.
Victoria: Get out of here, you old hag!
Victoria pointed her finger directly at Eleanor's face, her voice echoing loudly across the huge high ceilings of the sunlit room. Eleanor flinched backwards in her wheelchair, her eyes filling up with quiet tears of deep humiliation. Guests who were standing near the grand entrance turned their heads in absolute shock at the terrible words coming from the bride's mouth. Victoria did not care that she was causing a huge scene in front of everyone who mattered to her social standing. She stepped closer to the wheelchair, raising her voice even louder to hurt the old woman further. She wanted Eleanor gone before the main ceremony began, no matter how cruel she had to be to make it happen right away.
Near the back wall, a dark-haired housemaid named Hannah stopped wiping down the silver beverage table. She wore a simple dark maid uniform with a clean white apron tied tightly around her waist. Her dark hair was slicked back neatly, showing her direct and serious facial expression. Hannah had been working hard since five in the morning, serving rich people who rarely spoke a kind word to her. But seeing an innocent elderly woman get screamed at was something she could not ignore. Hannah set her cleaning cloth down slowly on the table and felt a surge of deep heat rising up inside her chest. She took a deep breath, fixed her eyes on Victoria, and started walking forward with purpose.