Chapter 2

Chapter 2: The Confrontation

The next morning, I knocked on my neighbor’s door. A woman in her fifties answered. She was wearing floral pajamas with her hair in rollers. She looked like she had just been dragged out of bed and was already annoyed about it.

I kept my voice polite and restrained. “Good morning, Mrs. Gable. I’m your neighbor from across the hall. I was wondering if you could organize the items in the hallway? It’s making it very difficult for me to get into my apartment.”

She looked me up and down. She stared at my old sneakers and my bare, un-makeuped face. Then, a smirk spread across her lips. It wasn't a friendly smile. It was the look a predator gives its prey.

“Difficult?” Her voice was sharp and piercing. “Go look at the fifth floor! They’ve gated off the whole corridor! I only put out a few cabinets and some boxes, and you’re complaining? Have you never lived in a city before? This is a common area! Common means it belongs to everyone. Since I live here too, why can’t I put my things out?”

“But the fire department regulations say the path must be―”

“Fire department? Give me a break! Don’t try to scare me with that crap,” she snapped, stepping closer until her finger was almost poking my nose. “I’ve lived in this building for twelve years! Even the HOA manager calls me 'Sister.' You’re just some girl renting a unit. Don't you dare talk to me about safety. If you don't like it, move! Nobody is begging you to stay!”

She slammed the door in my face. The impact was so hard that dust fell from the ceiling. I stood there, still holding a printed copy of the Fire Safety Regulations. My fingers were shaking. It wasn't from fear; it was the feeling of a final thread of patience snapping.

I turned around and went back inside. I pinned the regulations to my fridge. Then, I opened my laptop and created a new folder. I named it: “Hallway Evidence.”

You don't want to be reasonable? Fine. I’ll be legal.