“All this time, I thought we were on the same page. I thought we saw the world the same way, but now… now I don’t know. Landlords just… they take advantage of people.” His voice was tight, and he wouldn’t look at me.
“I’m not like that!” I said, stepping closer. “Maggie’s rent is fair, and I fix anything that breaks. I’m not some greedy landlord you see on the news.”
He shook his head.
“But you’re still making money off someone else’s need for a home.”
I felt the anger rise in my chest. “I don’t think you understand what I do. I’m not hurting anyone.
I charge Maggie way less than the market rate. I take care of the place. I’m not some corporate landlord out to bleed people dry.”
“But you still own it.
And you still make money off her.”
“Yeah, to keep the house from falling apart! I’m not getting rich from this, Jason. You know that.”
He shook his head, standing up from the couch.
“It’s all the same. It’s about power. You have something she needs, and you make her pay for it.”
The next morning, things came to a head.
I was on the phone with Maggie, confirming she’d bought the new freezer and I’d reimburse her. Jason walked in as I was finishing the call. “So, you’re paying for that?” he asked, sarcasm thick in his voice.
“Yes,” I replied, keeping my tone even. “The freezer was part of the apartment when she moved in. It’s my responsibility.”
He stared at me, his frustration bubbling over.
“Unbelievable.”
“Jason, I don’t know what you want from me,” I said, trying to keep calm. “What do you expect me to do?”
He folded his arms, his face hard. “I want you to stop being part of the problem.
Either stop charging rent or give me half of what you’re making. If you’re gonna be a landlord, at least share the profits.”
I stared at him, stunned. “Share the profits?
Jason, I’m not running some business here. The rent barely covers the costs.”
“I don’t care,” he snapped. “You’re either with me, or you’re not.
If you’re gonna keep profiting off people like that, then I deserve my share, too.”
Something in me broke then. “I’m not giving you half of anything. I’ve worked hard to keep this house running.
If you think I’m going to start handing over money just because you don’t like how I manage it, then you’re out of your mind.”
Before I could respond, he grabbed the keys from the coffee table and hurled them across the room. They hit the wall with a sharp clatter, and the next thing I knew, he swung his fist, aiming for the drywall. The impact wasn’t enough to punch through, but the thud echoed in the room, and the force of it sent a tremor through me.
“Fine!” he shouted, stepping back. His face was red, his breathing heavy. “I’m done.
I’m not staying here, not with you.”
My hand shook as I reached for my phone. “Jason, stop,” I said, my voice trembling. “Just calm down.”
But he was already moving toward the door.
I quickly typed a text to my dad: Please come now. November 27, 2024
November 29, 2024
December 04, 2024
Jason didn’t turn around as he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. The house felt silent, suddenly too big and too empty.
I stood there, still shaking, listening to the sound of his footsteps disappearing down the driveway. Within minutes, I heard the sound of my dad’s car pulling up. He didn’t ask questions when he saw me on the porch, my arms wrapped around myself.
He just pulled me into a hug, holding me tight as I tried to catch my breath. “He’s gone,” I whispered, still stunned by how fast it had all fallen apart. The next morning, I woke up to the sound of quiet knocking on my door.
I still felt numb from the night before, the echoes of Jason’s angry words playing in my mind. I dragged myself to the door and opened it to see Maggie standing there, holding a small basket of freshly baked muffins. “Hey, I heard about what happened,” she said softly.
“I’m really sorry.”
I managed a weak smile, surprised she knew so quickly. “Thanks, Maggie. I’m okay.”
She handed me the basket.
“I just wanted to bring these up. It’s nothing, but I figured you could use something sweet.”
I took the basket, feeling a warmth I hadn’t felt since Jason had stormed out. “You didn’t have to do that.
Thank you.”
Maggie smiled gently, then hesitated. “You know, I just want to say… I’ve had a lot of landlords over the years. Some bad, some worse.
But you? You’re one of the good ones. You actually care, and I’ve always appreciated that.”
I stood there for a moment, watching her walk back downstairs.
The house felt a little less empty, a little more like home again. And for the first time in days, I felt like I was going to be okay. Liked this story?
Source: amomama
