It is 6:40 in the morning. Aminata has barely slept.
She is sitting on the edge of a mattress placed directly on the floor. The room is cold and still half-dark. A few feet away, her three children sleep huddled under a blanket that no longer provides enough warmth.
On a chair, there is a plastic bag with documents, a crumpled resume, and the clothes she plans to wear. There are 17.35 € left in her purse.
Today she has the address of a hotel where, as she was told yesterday, they might need someone for cleaning.
"Might".
Aminata stares at that word written on a small piece of paper.
Getting there costs money. Not going could cost her much more.
She slowly stands up while one of her knees protests with a familiar pain. She puts a hand on her back, waits for the dizziness to pass, and looks at her children.
It is 6:42. A one-way bus ticket costs 1.55 €: that would leave 15.80 € in the purse. Walking, about fifty minutes, maybe more, with those knees and those shoes. They need to eat something for breakfast. She has to decide what to wear.
—Let's try it —she whispers, her voice hoarse from the few hours of sleep, not entirely convinced.
*The room remains silent. The day hasn't fully begun and it already feels heavy.