When I first signed the lease for my apartment, I felt lucky to find a roommate to share expenses with. Milly seemed friendly, and in the beginning, I thought things would work out well. But as time went on, the cracks started to show. She rarely chipped in for household supplies, left messes around the apartment, and constantly fell behind on bills. I tried to be patient, even covering her portion of the rent when she promised to pay me back. That repayment never came, and I found myself shouldering both the financial and emotional burden of keeping our home together.
Then, without warning, Milly packed a bag and moved in with her boyfriend, leaving most of her belongings behind. When I asked about her share of the rent, she said she wasn’t paying since she wasn’t living there anymore. For two stressful months, I covered everything while she ignored my texts and calls. Finally, I told her that if she didn’t respond, I’d assume she had moved out for good. After checking with the landlord, the locks were changed, confirming she was no longer on the lease.
With the apartment now my responsibility alone, I called in some friends to help. We sorted through Milly’s abandoned items, donating the things that seemed old or replaceable and keeping aside anything that looked valuable or personal. It felt strange to pack away someone else’s life, but I didn’t see another option after months of silence. A few days later, Milly returned unexpectedly, furious to find herself locked out and upset when she learned that some of her belongings were gone. I calmly explained the situation, reminding her that I had reached out repeatedly with no response.
Although the encounter ended with her leaving angry, I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. The whole experience taught me an important lesson: when it comes to roommates, clear agreements and firm boundaries are essential. Ghosting doesn’t erase responsibilities, and being upfront about expectations is the only way to avoid bigger problems later. Living with someone else can work, but only if both parties take responsibility for their share.