"Get out here, you piece of shit!" "I know it was you! You heartless bastard!" "My Josh is about to take his college entrance exams—you cut my power, cut my internet—you're trying to destroy his whole future!" "What's your problem?! You're just jealous my son's going to Harvard!"
She pounded on the security door, bang bang bang.
I stayed silent. Just watched her perform.
That's when her precious son, Joshua James, strolled out.
Designer clothes head to toe. Black-rimmed glasses. Looking every bit the polished scholar.
But the moment his eyes flicked toward my door, contempt flickered across his face. The corner of his mouth curled down.
When he spoke, the arrogance in his bones showed through.
"Mom, why even bother with bottom-feeders like him?"
He glanced at my door with open disdain.
"People who can't make it themselves can't stand seeing anyone else succeed."
"Once I get into Harvard, we're out of this dump. Never have to breathe the same air as this trash again."
Rachel latched onto his words like a lifeline: "Exactly! My son's absolutely right!"
Her voice cranked up another notch.
"You hear that? Trash! My son is destined for greatness, and you're nothing but dirt under his feet!" "Mess with him now—when he makes it big, you'll regret it!"
Neighbors started gathering in the hallway, whispering and pointing our way.
"Wow, Isaac's really something—neighbors and all, does he have to be so extreme?"
"Mrs. Lawrence has it hard enough on her own. She's just borrowing a little internet, saving a bit on electricity—what's the big deal?"
"Exactly. Her kid's about to take the Harvard entrance exam. This isn't holding anything up, is it?"
I listened to the chatter outside my door. My fingertips touched the ice-cold doorknob, but my heart was colder.
These people only saw Rachel crying and making a scene. They didn't see how she'd kicked my door like she owned the place. They only heard her son was Harvard-bound. They didn't hear the venom that spewed from their mouths.
In this world, the kid who cries gets the candy. And the woman who screams the loudest gets the crowd on her side.
I pulled out my phone and hit record.
Then I called the property manager.