Life of Ma Parker by Katherine Mansfield

Ma Parker, a cleaning woman, silently endures a long day of physical labor after the death of her beloved grandson. As she scrubs and sweeps, her inner monologue reveals a life filled with hardship, loss, and stoic endurance. Yet no one around her seems to notice or care about her grief. The plot contrasts outward routine with deep inner pain. It’s a heartbreaking portrait of invisibility and emotional isolation among the working class.