Then there were the building’s shared amenities—or the lack thereof. Stacey paid for access to the basement washer and dryer, but they were perpetually broken. Each time she mentioned it, he’d assure her it would be fixed “soon.” Yet, weeks would pass, and nothing would change. But she told herself it wasn’t worth making waves over.
Despite these annoyances, Stacey knew her apartment was a lucky find. In a city where affordable housing was scarce, she’d learned to overlook the inconveniences. Her place might be small, but it was her own, and she knew others in worse situations who had to endure far more.