Maria Santos had never been on a plane before, but as she pressed her forehead against the tiny oval window, the glittering lights of Hong Kong spread beneath her like spilled jewels. Her heart pound not from the height, but from the thought that her life was about to change forever.
At 37, Maria was leaving behind her small home in Laguna, along with her husband and two teenage children. Her family’s expenses had been growing faster than her husband’s salary as a factory worker. Her eldest son was entering senior high school, and her daughter had dreams of becoming a nurse. The only wat Maria could see those dreams come true was to work abroad.
Through a recruitment agency, she was hired by the Lee family, who lived in a modern high-rise apartment overlooking Victoria Harbour. Her main duties were cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, and helping care for their 5 year old daughter, Chloe.
The apartment was smaller than she expected, but it was filled with expensive furniture, delicate ornaments, and huge windows that framed the bustling city below. Mrs. Lee was polite but very particular about cleanliness there could be no dust on the shelves, no streaks on the glass, no creases on the bedsheets.
Maria’s days started at 6 am. She would prepare breakfast usually congee or steamed bund pack Mr. Lee’s lunch, and get Chloe ready for kindergarten. After the family left, she would clean the apartment, do the laundry, and run errands in the busy streets of Causeway bay. At first, navigating the city was overwhelming. The signs were in Chinese characters, and the MTR subway system felt like a maze. But after a few weeks, she began to recognize landmarks and even picked up simple Cantonese phrases to greet shopkeepers.
Her favorite task quickly became taking Chloe to the park after school. The little girl, shy at first, began to trust Maria, especially when she discovered that Maria could braid her hair into intricate styles. Chloe would chatter away about her day, and Maria, even if she didn’t understand every word, would smile and listen.
The hardest part of her job wasn’t the work it was the loneliness. In the evenings, after the Lees had dinner and retreated to their rooms, Maria would video call her family. She often hid her tears when her children asked when she was coming home. She reassured then, “Soon” though she knew it would be years.
One winter evening, during the Lunar New Year, the Lees invited her to join their family dinner. She wore her best blouse and sat quietly as they passed plates of dumplings, roast duck, and sweet rice cakes. When Mrs. Lee handed her a small red envelope with a smile, Maria felt her throat tighten. Inside was money and a note written in careful English: Thank you for taking care of our home and Chloe. You are part of our family.
That night, Maria stood by the apartment window, looking out at the fireworks exploding over the harbor. The reflection of the city lights reminded her of the hopes she carried from home. She promised herself that every hour she spent here was an investment in her children’s future a sacrifice that, one day, would be worth it.
