NINE

I stared out of the window of Mayor’s office, my gaze fixed on the lively scene in the plaza below. I couldn't help but imagine myself there, capturing the moment with my camera. However, my daydreaming was abruptly interrupted when Mayor Montalvo placed file boxes on my table, just a few steps away.

"Sort these files by date and place them back on my desk when you're done," he instructed before retreating to his seat.

I reached for the files stored in the organizer, my mind still half lost in my daydream. There were three files, and I couldn't deny the weariness that settled upon me. It seemed that whenever Julius didn't have appointments in town, he would keep me occupied with an endless stream of work.

Resting my feet on the cold floor, I felt a slight relief from the pain that had been plaguing me. I began sorting the files, arranging them in chronological order from the latest date to the oldest. Every so often, I glanced at Julius, who was engrossed in his laptop, typing away. I