The Apartment
Issue 2
The reason Jeremy and I picked the apartment was the balcony (where you could fit an entire table and 2 chairs), well two reasons - the balcony and the in-unit washer and dryer. If you’ve ever lived in New York you know the trifecta (outdoor space, washer/dryer, and dishwasher). The only thing we were missing was the dishwasher and we figured the washer/dryer situation made up for it. We were the first people to look at the place and we decided we wanted it that day. Another thing about New York is you have to move quickly on the prime spots or they’ll be gone, scooped up by another couple who realized they found a gem.
We went to sign our lease on a rainy day in mid-March, the kind of day where the sky and the sidewalk feel like one mass with you smashed in the middle. Back when we were saying, “There’s no way what happened in China will happen here, no way!!” Being an American in a big, liberal city makes you naive like that, or it did.
Our landlord answered the door, stone-faced. “Come in,” he said.
We followed him into a corporate conference room. Through the glass walls, we could see two women diligently scrubbing down every surface, although it looked clean to me. Again, it was early-March.
“Sit, sit,” he said, in a thick accent. The room went silent and I noticed him glaring at my ring finger. He began asking us a few questions.
‘So how long have you been together?’, then, ‘Oh, you work from home full-time, why don’t you have a second job?’, and finally, ‘You’re not married, correct? Who will pay the rent if you break up?’
Jeremy and I laughed nervously, was he serious? What, because we’re not married you assume we can’t stay together for one year? Why am I allowing myself to feel this way by a man I don’t know, who doesn’t know me? A man that DEFINITELY still wants my rent money?
We somehow got through the string of questions that had nothing to do with our credit scores and moved on to the lease. As we continued to initial the pages and pages of legal language, I noticed another line - ‘No dogs.’
“Wait -,” I said, “The reason we chose this apartment is because we were told you allowed dogs.”
Grinning he said, “Well, I don’t like dogs.”
Grinning back wider, I said, “I do - and I’m getting one soon.”
His eyes darted between Jeremy and me, “Ok, Ok,” he said softly, “Just let me know before you do.”
We signed the lease, itching to get out of there. Wondering if, after all of that, we had made the right decision.
Hand in hand we began to walk the 10 minutes home, the sky already almost dark in the brisk winter air.
I looked up at Jeremy, “I’m not going to tell him if we get a dog,” I said.
“Oh, I know you won’t,” he said, smiling back at me, and squeezing my hand a little harder.
Tiny Things to Improve your Week
Taking a few minutes after you get out of the shower to massage your own feet with lotion or oil.
I know EW - but hear me out: your feet need love especially thinking about how often you are on them, it’s super grounding, just try it once! Extra points if you do it before bed.
Thank you to Emily for the tip, highly recommend a consultation with her.
These Madewell shorts that I bought for my sister and myself, which I learned are called “Boxer Shorts” and the one thing I am living in peak-pandemic.
Like me, you meant to learn to bake bread during quarantine and you did not. Luckily She Wolf exists, one of the top pieces of bread I’ve ever eaten, and a very cool logo. Also, who wouldn’t want to be a She Wolf?
