Most importantly, the rent was higher than what I’d been paying, but still within reach if I was careful. Tight, but doable.
When I got approved, I sat in my car and cried, the relief so intense it felt like my body didn’t know what else to do with it. My chest hurt. My hands shook. I kept wiping my face and laughing softly through tears, stunned that I’d found a way out.
I signed the lease that same day.
That night, I made a budget that looked like a punishment. No takeout lunches. No streaming subscriptions. No new clothes unless absolutely necessary. I’d meal-prep like it was religion. I’d be cautious. I’d be disciplined.
But every time I felt the sting of sacrifice, I pictured my mother’s voice, my father’s shrug, Vanessa’s smirk.
And the sacrifices felt worth it.
When I told my parents, my mother scoffed like she’d been waiting for the chance.
