Most of us want to be a good neighbor and the kind of person who helps when someone is in need. But what happens when a small act of kindness opens the door (literally) to something much more complicated and crazy?
This 34-year-old woman has a 22-year-old neighbor named M, who lives right next door to her in their apartment complex. She lives by herself and has two pet cats. She’s currently on a temporary leave from work due to a panic disorder.
Now, her neighbor N has a boyfriend, and their relationship is not only toxic, but it’s also scary, as they scream at one another, break items, and punch walls.
She actually called the police on N’s boyfriend after he was shouting at her so badly that it frightened her, and he wouldn’t leave the apartment.
“N has two toddlers and is pregnant with a third. She doesn’t work. Recently, she lost custody of her children temporarily and only has supervised visits, meaning she was kicked out of her mom’s place and is living with [her boyfriend],” she explained.
“Since grandma speaks only Spanish, I don’t know why she lost custody. N seems nice, but immature. I try helping grandma where I can, and the kids have grown attached to me.”
“Earlier today, I allowed N, the grandma, and the two toddlers into my home so the kids could see my cats. N was only visiting. That is when she saw I had not one, but two guest beds (will be important later). The kids played and had fun, and I always try to be nice.”
She did tell N about the panic attacks she’s suffering from, and then they left. At 2 a.m., somebody started knocking on her door.
She got up to see who it was and was surprised to find N on her doorstep. N told her that she was forced to sleep in her car because she’s been arguing with her boyfriend, and she asked to borrow a car charger.
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She got one for N, who acted like she had more to tell her, but she kept quiet and walked off to her car. An hour later, at 3 a.m., N knocked on her door for a second time.
“This time, she shares she was embarrassed and wanted to see if I would let her stay the night, and also do a virtual meeting in my apartment,” she added.
“Please note we are friendly, but not close at all. AND I have been recently subpoenaed for an upcoming trial after witnessing her BF assault a neighbor.”
She felt terrible for N and let her in. She went to her bedroom, shut the door behind her, and got hit with a full-on panic attack. Her mind raced, and she wondered what had happened to cause N to lose custody of her kids.
She then got worried about N stealing from her or doing things to her cats. While N has always been kind, she couldn’t stop herself from panicking about having a virtual stranger in her house.
She walked back out to N, played up her panic attack, and said she had to walk around the entire apartment to calm herself down, so N had to leave, or she was going to freak out.
“I express it has nothing to do with her. I give her the choice of pillows and blankets. She looked hurt but was very pleasant and agreed,” she said.
“I could finally get myself calm when she was gone, as I felt safe again. But now I feel like a monster. She is pregnant and acts [nicely].”
Well, later on, she was telling their other neighbor about N, and since this neighbor speaks Spanish, she asked her to translate what happened to N’s mom.
She didn’t want any hard feelings, and she wanted to tell N’s mom that she still likes them but felt uneasy with N asking to sleep over.
Her neighbor was irritated by N and N’s mom but said that she would translate. She didn’t get why the neighbor was annoyed at N’s mom, because this woman has always been super sweet to her.
She and the neighbor went next door to speak to N’s mom, who didn’t seem that upset by what the neighbor was relaying to her.
“As the translation continued, she said the following: Her daughter shouldn’t have picked that late at night, but it was N’s MOM who felt that it would be a good idea if N came to live with me from now on!” she exclaimed.
“She said it was perfect because she could be close to her kids, but not be [break] the CPS rules. Furthermore, she was annoyed at ME for involving another person in this business. I am FLABBERGASTED.”
“She truly expects me to take in this woman, RENT FREE, when she has a violent boyfriend who I am legally obligated to testify against in court! You guys…. Please tell me I’m not crazy for being shocked.”
She is way too involved in N’s drama, and she needs to stay away from N and her family. She shouldn’t interact with them anymore, let alone allow them into her apartment.
N is not her problem to deal with; her family can help her and the kids. That’s not a job for her to take on.
What advice do you have for her?
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By Bre Avery Zacharski
Hi, I'm Bre, Chip Chick's CEO! I have a degree in Textile/Surface Design from The Fashion Institute of Technology, and... More about Bre Avery Zacharski
