Elena and her pimp William live in this boarding house/hotel together and work the strip where I spent much of my time in San Jose. She was one of the more memorable workers I photographed this time, largely because of her age, stature and air of innocence. She had the softest smile in the neighborhood and was the only one in that particular building whose footsteps i couldn't hear approaching. While i photographed her, William washed and hung her laundry on the decaying fire escape. Tied them off with strips of trash bag. I wasn't able to ask her many questions as that isn't smiled upon and my access hinged upon me being non intrusive. I watched her put on makeup and the only moment of connection we had was when we saw a guy carrying 4 boxes on his head down in the street drop them and we both laughed. Other than that we had little eye contact and I'm pretty sure she didn't care for me or my camera. I wouldn't have either.