Manhattan, New York - Mid 1990's

My grandmother worked in a clothing factory in Manhattan in the mid-90s. My grandmother

had to work to make ends meet when her husband, my grandfather, left for China to find better opportunities.

She started working at the age of 48, waking up at 6 am daily to make the commute to Manhattan from Bayside, Queens. She'd arrive at the factory at 8 am.

The factory was dusty and dry. Her job consisted of shifting through piles of clothes and inspecting them for flaws. By noon, she'd say that she was exhausted and covered in sweat as the factory lacked any meaningful ventilation.

When she found flaws in the clothes, she had to mend them herself. By 6 pm, her hands were almost always bloodied and sore.

She worked well into the night and finished at 2 a.m. When the last dress was fixed and approved, she closed down the factory and headed home.

Her children would be asleep at home, and the house would be completely silent.

After years of sacrifice, my grandmother successfully provided for her family. She now peacefully spends her days tending to the vegetables and flowers in her garden.

She still misses my grandfather, who passed away shortly after returning to the U.S. from lung cancer.