It's early morning, and the city is still asleep. Public transportation is nonexistent, the streets are dark, but Toñi is already on her way. Before 6:00 a.m., she opens the doors of the Las Tunas Provincial People's Court.

Las Tunas, Cuba.– Nadina Antonia Segura, "but everyone calls me Toñi because, since my name is Antonia, it's easier," has been working at this institution for 12 years. She arrived in 2012, thanks to Said, the administrator at the time, and from the first day she heard the same words: "Let's see if you last, because everyone who comes in here eventually leaves."

"Here I'm the pantry worker, in charge of heating lunches, and I also do the cleaning assistant work. I have multiple jobs," she explains matter-of-factly, as she walks.

Her day begins with sweeping, cleaning, and getting everything ready so that, promptly at 11:00 a.m., the workers can start circulating in the cafeteria. Toñi doesn't complain. At 58, she has plenty of energy.

"Guillermo and Yunior always tell me they're going to take away my award, because every year since I've been here, they've given me the recognition for best worker.
"I never miss a day. Sometimes I feel unwell, but I come. If I'm very sick, I call for a ride, but I never miss work." Living on 10th Street in Buena Vista and working downtown isn't easy, especially now, with the transportation limitations.

"One of my sons has a motorcycle and the other a moped. Gasoline is a problem, but the one with the moped picks me up and brings me back when he gets off work." "At one o'clock, when I finish, he comes and takes me home."

They are her support, just as she is for her grandchildren, a two-year-old girl and Frank Camilo, the 11-year-old boy who dreams of being a baseball player. "Every afternoon he spends training, I make lunch for my son, and then they both go home. That makes me happy."

Before coming to the city, Toñi worked at the 30 de Noviembre Cooperative in Estrada, in the municipality of Manatí. "I worked there for many years as a cook, but I was also in charge of the animals. I herded sheep; there were five of us, but I was in charge of that many animals." "They wouldn't take an animal without me."

Working in a courthouse isn't like working anywhere else. Distressed people, prisoners, and victims seeking justice pass through its halls. Toñi knows this and handles it with a wisdom that only experience can bring. "Here, you have to manage people, because they arrive agitated. You have to tell them, 'Look, this is how it is.' In all the years I've been here, I've never had to be reprimanded for anything." She has a good relationship with the judges, non-judicial staff, and presiding judges.

"A few days ago, when a trial went on until one o'clock, I spoke with the presiding judge to ask if the dining room could be opened for the judges and court clerks to have lunch, and she told me there was no problem, that I should go, that they would take care of it."

Next year, Toñi will retire. She turns 59 in November, 12 of them at the courthouse. "I never thought I would retire here." Juana told me one day, 'Let's see if you last.' And look, I liked working here."