Mateo Torres stood in the employee breakroom, staring at his reflection in the small cracked mirror hanging on the wall. His black uniform was crisp and clean, his hair pulled back neatly. He looked professional, presentable, exactly what the Grand View estate required of its staff. But inside, he felt like he was slowly disappearing.
It was Friday evening, and the Grand Ballroom was being prepared for another extravagant event. Mateo had been working at the Grand View estate for almost two years now, and in that time he’d served at countless parties, weddings, and charity galas. Each event was more lavish than the last, with guests who wore watches that cost more than he made in a year.
He grabbed his notepad and pen, took a deep breath, and pushed through the swinging doors into the service corridor. The sound of his footsteps echoed off the marble floors as he made his way toward the ballroom. The Grand View estate was one of those places that made you feel small. Everything was oversized and dramatic.
Crystal chandeliers hung from ceilings that seemed impossibly high. Gold-trimmed mirrors reflected endless versions of yourself. Fresh flowers filled massive vases in every corner, their perfume mixing with the scent of expensive cologne and wine. Tonight’s event was a charity gala for some cause Mateo hadn’t bothered to learn about.
He discovered early on that it didn’t really matter what the cause was. These events all followed the same pattern. Rich people gathered to write checks that made them feel good about themselves, ate expensive food, drank vintage wine, and went home feeling like they’d saved the world. Meanwhile, Mateo and the other staff worked twelve-hour shifts for barely enough money to cover rent.
Mateo was twenty-four years old, though some days he felt twice that age. His feet ached constantly from standing all day. His back hurt from carrying heavy trays. His face hurt from maintaining the pleasant, invisible smile that servers were expected to wear. But the physical pain was nothing compared to the other kind of pain, the one that lived somewhere deeper.