She flipped the switch. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the light. The bedding was mostly on the floor, and several bottles of champagne had been emptied and left in different positions on the nightstands. It was a familiar scene.

A woman wrapped in a towel stepped out of the bathroom.

“Oh! I’m sorry. I didn’t realize anyone was in here.” She turned to leave, but the other stopped her.

“It’s fine. You probably need to get this room cleaned up. I’m afraid we made a bit of a mess.”

“I can come back later.”

“No, really, I don’t mind. I’m almost done, after all.”

She wasn’t sure what to do. The room needed to be done before check-in, but she wasn’t supposed to rush guests.

“Please stay.”

Reluctantly she turned back into the room. The woman was drying her hair with another towel.

“Thanks, I’ll stay out of your way. It’s just kind of… lonely. You know, the morning after?”

“I can’t say I do.”

“You clean all these rooms, but you’ve never enjoyed a stay in one?”

“No.” She stripped the bed and carried the sheets out to her cart. As she brought in a fresh set, she saw the woman was staring at her from the bathroom doorway.

“What do you do? For fun, I mean?”

“I do this.” She finished smoothing the sheets before returning the comforter to the top of the bed.

“This isn’t fun. This is work. Oh! Come out with me tonight!”

“I am not supposed to socialize with the guests.”

“Well I won’t tell anyone. Come out. Have fun. There’s more to life than cleaning up after other people. Please?”

“I… I’ll come back later to finish up. I’m sorry for intruding.” She left the room quickly before the woman could stop her again.