Life in Rooms

Life in Rooms

By Deneja Atkins

Just about every room had easy access. No locks, no security. Any and everyone was free to go in. It was move-in ready, I was told. I wanted to have a preview of these rooms, at most from the doorway. The doorway was all the view I needed. I could see everything. Two rooms needed exploration. I wanted a room for cheap, and I wanted comfortable.

This door was slightly open. The door had no weight to it. My breath could open the door for me. There was a full-sized bed. The room sweltered me from the doorway. It could have been from the big dark black curtains draping to the floors covering the window that absorbed the heat from the sunshine that was supposed to illuminate the room. This room possessed an uncomfortable welcome. The room felt like many have been in here before. Whoever last rented this room, life was rough. From the doorway, I could see a needle with a silver spoon and lighter lying hopelessly on the floor. I went to the landlord and told him what I saw. He abruptly walked past me in the doorway and into the room and picked up the items while apologizing. The room was only $600 flat with no security deposit.

This door was jammed. I had to jiggle the nob and push the door with the force of my body weight. This room was hard to get into. As I opened the door all I could see was a large window with a queen-sized bed facing the window. Sun filling the areas of void in the room. I envisioned myself waking up every morning with promise, power, and fortitude in this room. This was $650 a month with a security deposit of $500.

Found myself in a life-or-death situation, choosing between cheap and comfort.

After looking at all the rooms I stood in the long hallway thinking about the room I wanted to call my new life. Choosing this room meant owning up to the consequences that came with it. This was my choice. I gave the landlord the money and said, “I want this room, and it must have a lock.”

He replied, “Oh you want this room, everyone wants this room. It’s not for the weak. Room cost $6…. For your first month”.

(387 words)