Maria looked away. Her smile was gone. But at least the infection was too.
That night, while Leo slept, she searched online again: “Ontario works dental coverage — adult preventive care.” The page was unchanged. She closed the laptop and touched her swollen cheek. ontario works dental coverage
Leo stayed in the waiting room, counting ceiling tiles. Maria looked away
Her son, Leo, aged seven, swung his legs on the plastic chair beside her. “Mom, does it hurt?” That night, while Leo slept, she searched online
She nodded, tears prickling—from pain or defeat, she wasn’t sure. On the bus home, she saw a billboard for a private dental clinic: Smile with confidence. Payment plans available.
Leo held her hand. “Can we get ice cream now? Soft kind?”
The next morning, she applied for a job at a call center. No face-to-face. No smiles required.