I stood frozen in the foyer, my knuckles turning white as I gripped the handles of my suitcases. “Lorraine? What on earth are you doing in my apartment? Where is Daniel?”
She took a slow, deliberate sip from my grandmother’s mug, staring at me with pure venom. “I told you, it’s my apartment now.

You’re just trash living off my son. You’ve been leaching off him for years, and while you’ve been away playing nurse, Daniel finally did the right thing. He gave the keys to his mother. Now get your things and get out before I have you arrested for trespassing.”

A cold numbness washed over me. I looked at the woman who had never liked me, now comfortably occupying my couch, drinking from my family heirlooms, wearing the clothes meant for me. I felt the hot sting of tears pricking the corners of my eyes, but a sudden, fierce wave of anger burned them away. I didn’t argue. I didn’t scream. I simply reached into my pocket, pulled out my phone, and called the building’s front desk security.

“Yes, this is Clara from 12B. There is an intruder in my apartment who is refusing to leave. Please send someone up immediately.”
Lorraine’s eyes widened slightly, but she maintained her smug smile, clearly believing I was bluffing. But five minutes later, the heavy thud of security guards at the door shattered her confidence. When the two burly guards walked in and I showed them my ID and the lease agreement, Lorraine’s face morphed from smug satisfaction to absolute panic.

She refused to move, forcing the guards to physically grab her by the arms. They dragged her out into the carpeted hallway, her peach satin robe billowing behind her as she kicked, clawed, and cursed my name. Neighbors opened their doors to peek out at the commotion as the guards marched her toward the elevator bank.
I followed them out, wanting to ensure she was completely out of the building.

As they forced her into the elevator, Lorraine threw her weight against the back wall, staring at me through the closing gap of the sliding metal doors. Her face was twisted in a mask of pure rage.

Right before the doors fully sealed, she screamed something that made my blood run completely cold.
“You think you own this place?!” she shrieked, her voice echoing down the hall. “Ask Daniel where the down payment came from! Ask him whose name is actually on the deed, you stupid girl! You don’t own a single brick!”
The doors closed with a heavy, metallic click. The hallway plunged back into silence, but my world was spinning.