On the morning of the final interview, they left half an hour early.
Everything the front desk had asked for was sorted into a clear plastic folder: pay stubs, school reports, medical and social worker evaluations, and the family photo from the community center.
The interview went faster than they expected.
The landlord and community representative flipped through the documents, then looked at the photo on the table. They asked a few questions about job stability, the kids’ routines, and future plans. Albert and Melissa split the answers, sometimes glancing at each other to confirm they were on the same page.
At the end, the representative said, “Thank you. We’ll call this afternoon with the result.”
Outside, the sun was too bright.
Back home, it was barely past noon.
“I should reor
