October 28, 2009
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Finally Home (SH 34)
“Okay, we’re leaving now. Good luck and remember, we’re just a phone call away. I love you!,” my mom said, giving me a tight squeeze.
The door shut and I was alone in my very first place. It wasn’t perfect but it was what I could afford with my meager salary. The walls were the inevitable landlord off-white, as was the carpet. The apartment was a small studio but it was mine. I didn’t have to share the bathroom with anyone. No one else’s dishes would crowd the sink anymore. I was free.
After five years of putting up with five different roommates after college, I was ready to be on my own. I had gone through Kate the Dirty, Nate the Drum Player, Colin the Food Burner, Anna the Hermit and Heidi the Lusty. Kate, I’m pretty sure, had no idea that we had a dishwasher or a vacuum cleaner because she never ever used them. I remember going on vacation for a week and returning to our apartment to a stench so great, that I left a note for her to clean up and promptly left again. Luckily for both of us, she took the hint. Nate played drums at all hours of the day it seemed like. I’m not sure how we didn’t have more neighbors knocking on our door or calling the cops. Colin burned food in every single pan I owned until they were unusable. He never offered to replace any of them. Anna never left the apartment, ever. I would come home and she would be there, always without fail. Heidi brought home every single guy (and about a 1/4 of the girls) in the entire city and slept with them very, very loudly. How much could I really complain about any of these people though? They paid rent and therefore the apartment was half theirs anyhow. I parted ways with each of them after our year lease was up and then it was back to Craigslist to try and find another roommate who would be a little bit better except they never ever were. It was time for me to be my own roommate. I decided even if it meant moving to a smaller place in a less desirable area, I would do it. I needed some independence.
Convincing my parents that this was a good idea was no easy feat. They didn’t like the thought of me, a young woman, living on my own. When I pointed out how miserable I had been with the previous roommates, they finally conceded as long as I promised to be safe.
Mom had helped me unpack the major stuff. I pondered opening some of the remaining boxes and putting away a few more things. I laid on my back in the middle of the apartment and looked up at the ceiling. It felt good to be home.
(This is fiction)
Comments (5)
It does not sound like fiction at all. I loved it! Greatly written.
I haven’t experienced roommates seeing as I am still living at home, but I would love to live alone. I’d much rather live alone than with roommates from the stories I’ve heard, haha.
By the way, I saw your Xanga-card thing in your picture. I had to say, I also love public transport and people-watching, oh and coffee! I had all three today; I was on the train, drinking coffee and enjoying being surrounded by strangers all doing their own thing, going to wherever they were going. It was pretty awesome.
I like the names you give to your ex-roommates !!
They were a true catastrophe !!! 
You say this is a fiction . The fiction is good, Meg.
Love
Michel
Ha…I like the note…Heidi seems like a nice girl
@OhItWontBeForever - Those three things are part of my everyday commute.
@fauquet - Thank you!
@youandwhosearmy - Eh, people keep mistaking my fiction for non-fiction. I felt a note was needed
Very well written.