Episode One

Sarah traveled to Iraq to work as a housemaid, driven by the poor economy and corrupt government in her home country, which left her with few options. Two years out of high school, she had been working hard, but her wages barely covered the bills for her family. Desperate for a better income, she learned about higher-paying opportunities in Arab countries. After considerable effort, she obtained a passport and connected with an agent who agreed to process her visa. The agent required only a quarter of the fee upfront, with the promise of paying the rest once she began working in Iraq.

Nervous but motivated by the desire to support her family, especially her single mother who had shouldered their responsibilities alone, Sarah took the plunge. Arriving in Iraq at midnight, she was one of many women being transported to the placement office. The man who picked them up gave off an unsettling vibe, hinting that the operation might be illegal. Despite her exhaustion, Sarah was awed by the company's beautiful office and the cat statues at the entrance.

They were taken to a waiting room where potential clients could choose or reject their maids. The scene felt like an auction. Sarah, instructed to smile, couldn't help but think about the misleading portrayals of Africa she had seen in documentaries – how outsiders often depicted their lives as primitive and surprising. She frowned at the customers, feeling conflicted about the façade she was expected to maintain.

The rules were harsh:

they were to follow any instructions given by their employers.

Work hours ranged from 8 AM to 10 PM or 9 AM to 11 PM.

They were allowed only two hours of rest.

And they were to stay indoors for the duration of their two-year contract. If the employer wished to flaunt their maid, they needed to obtain a permit.

Sarah wasn't chosen that night. It was past midnight, and she was exhausted. Her second night in Iraq brought more anxiety as she listened to other girls crying and calling their families. Clients typically came at night, and some during the day, but Sarah and the other girls were there for contract work, which was different from the daily work some clients sought.

That night, a girl who had been in the office for some time refused to go for contract work. Despite her beauty, which usually made her a popular choice, her refusal was testing the patience of Muhammad, the head of the office. After the client left with another girl, some thugs came in, herded the remaining girls into the kitchen, and locked the door. They proceeded to beat the girl who had refused to work. Sarah, terrified and desperate, shouted, "Is this how y'all are going to keep silent? We have to do something – bang on the door! They can't beat us all if we cooperate!" But her pleas were met with silence and murmurs of, "Don't implicate us. You can go ahead."