Lyneth woke up before the sun rose, her body aching from the physical labor of the day before. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes, her gaze falling on the small, cluttered room she shared with her 10-year-old daughter, Analyn. The walls were thin, and the sounds of the neighbors' arguments and the wail of sirens in the distance created a constant din.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed, her feet dangling in the air. Her toes were numb, a result of the cold concrete floor and the worn-out slippers she wore. She rubbed them together, trying to get the blood flowing.

"Analyn, wake up," she whispered, shaking her daughter gently.

Analyn stirred, her eyes fluttering open. She rubbed her eyes, yawned, and sat up, her dark hair tangled and messy.

"Good morning, Mama," she said, her voice still husky from sleep.

Lyneth smiled, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "Good morning, baby. Time to get up. We have a long day ahead of us."

Analyn nodded, throwing off the covers. Lyneth helped her get dressed in the worn but clean clothes she had laid out the night before. They shared a small bathroom with the neighbors, and Lyneth made sure Analyn washed her face and brushed her teeth before they headed out.

Their small kitchen was cramped, with a single burner stove and a sink that often leaked. Lyneth boiled water for coffee, the only luxury she allowed herself. She poured a cup for herself and a glass of water for Analyn.

"Eat your breakfast, baby," Lyneth said, handing Analyn a bowl of oatmeal with a sprinkle of sugar.

Analyn dug in, her eyes fixed on her mother. "Mama, can I ask you something?"

Lyneth took a sip of her coffee, feeling the bitter taste on her tongue. "What is it, baby?"

"Why do we have to live like this?" Analyn asked, her voice small but determined. "Why can't we have a better life?"

Lyneth's heart skipped a beat. She had asked herself the same question countless times, but she didn't have an answer. She took another sip of her coffee, trying to gather her thoughts.

"We'll get out of this, baby," Lyneth said, her voice firm. "I promise. We just have to keep working hard and believing in ourselves."

Analyn nodded, but Lyneth could see the doubt in her eyes. Lyneth knew that doubt all too well. She had lived with it for years, ever since she was a teenager and got pregnant with Analyn.

But Lyneth pushed the doubt aside, focusing on the task at hand. She had to get to work, and Analyn had to get to school. They had to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it got.

"Let's go, baby," Lyneth said, grabbing her bag and Analyn's backpack. "We have a long day ahead of us."

Together, they stepped out into the bright morning light, ready to face whatever challenges the day might bring.