Part I: The Gilded Conspiracy THE CRYING STOPPED. It was 11:47 PM. Exactly. The last shovelful of dirt covered the wooden box. Darkness.…
Part I: The Gilded Prisoner The oppressive humidity of a late July afternoon hung over Lafayette Square Park in Washington D.C. The sun…
After my husband passed away, I found a new job, and every day I left a little money for a homeless old man…
Part I: The Architect of Anxiety My name is Ruth Carter. I’m 40 years old, I was born in a bustling, competitive suburb…
Part I: The Gilded Solitude The New York City skyline on Christmas Eve was a spectacle of impossible light and cold beauty. But…
Part I: The Gilded Cage The restaurant, “The Gilded Dome,” located atop a shimmering skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, was more than just exclusive.…
Part I: The Invisible Labor My name is Joan Miller. I’m 62 years old, and my back is always hurting. It’s not just…
On a bright but cold morning, the city’s financial district was waking up as it did every day: glass skyscrapers reflected the cold…
“At my wedding, my fiancée’s family mocked my mother in front of 230 guests for being poor. Then they told everyone: ‘That’s not…