Editing Openai/69480eaa-b3f4-8009-9b57-32f2f225fce3 (section)

=== Assistant: “i wake before the bell,” mary says. ===
“i wake before the bell,” mary says. “it’s still dark, and the cold is already in my bones. i pull on my clothes and light the pipe. it steadies me. i don’t rush. the day is long whether you hurry or not.”

“when i get inside, there’s already noise. coughing, shuffling, someone crying out for water. i tell them to keep quiet. i don’t shout unless i have to. shouting wastes breath.”

“i set them to work. scrub, sort, carry. the rules are the rules. i repeat them often, because people forget when they’re hungry. some glare at me like i’ve done this to them. i don’t answer that. i just tell them what comes next.”

“at dinner i measure the portions. same for everyone. no more, no less. they complain. i say nothing. fairness is easier than kindness here.”

“when someone gets ill, i fetch what’s allowed and no more. when someone breaks a rule, i mark it and move on. i don’t enjoy it. i don’t refuse it either.”

“by evening my back aches. i step outside, draw on the pipe again, and let the smoke go where it wants. inside, the doors are shut, the day is accounted for.”

“i go to bed knowing tomorrow will be the same. that’s the work. keeping it from spilling over.”