Hands Off My Apartment

"Winona, can you stop making a scene already?" Felix Carter had both hands in his pockets, sounding impatient.

I looked around the room full of torn cardboard boxes. My gaze fell on Felix's mother, Bertha Walker, who was squatting on the floor, picking at the tile grout.

"I bought this place, and I oversaw the renovation. Why should she get the master bedroom?"

I pointed at Zoe Levine, who refused to let go of my silk pillow she had in her arms.

Zoe bit her lower lip as tears welled up in her eyes.

She said, "If Winona doesn't like me, I'll leave right away. Even if I have to sleep under a bridge or beg on the street, I can't let you all fight over me."

Felix pulled Zoe into his arms and shouted at me, "Look how scared you made Zoe!"

Then he said, "She's my mom's goddaughter, not an outsider. It's just you. Why do you need all this space?

"Don't think buying an apartment makes you better than everyone else. Once you marry me, this house belongs to everyone in my family."

Bertha was holding a dark, dirty, and foul-smelling rag. She casually threw it onto my newly bought white leather couch and chimed in, "Exactly, Winona. Not to be harsh, but you can't be so selfish. Didn't your mother ever teach you to share?

"The master bedroom is spacious. Zoe's been in poor health, so it's only right she gets to stay in that room."

I shook with anger.

"Felix, this is our home after our wedding!" I snarled. "My parents paid for it as my wedding gift. You didn't have to contribute a single cent."

Bertha quickly walked over and jabbed a finger in my face.

"So what if you paid in full? You should thank your lucky stars Felix even wants to marry you!" she yelled. "In this family, he gets the final say. Whoever he chooses gets the room.

"If you say one more word, forget the marriage. There are plenty of women lined up to marry Felix anyway!"

Felix lit a cigarette in the living room where I didn't allow smoking. He took deep drags, ash falling onto the wool carpet I had spent three months choosing.

He said, "You hear that? My mom is doing this for your own good. Maybe it'll straighten you out."

Then, he added, "You can sleep in the guest bedroom. That gloomy little room should teach a spoiled princess like you some humility."

Zoe took refuge in Felix's arms and smiled smugly at me. She said, "Winona, don't be mad. I'll give it back when I'm tired of it."

I glared at them.

The last bit of hope I had for our future together was completely gone.

"Fine, I'm leaving," I said. Turning around, I grabbed my bag and walked out.

Felix shouted behind me, "If you leave now, don't ever come back begging me. Come back when you've learned how to be a good wife, then apologize to Zoe!"

I didn't look back. Instead, I took out my phone and called the moving company. Then, I sent the locksmith my location.

I wasn't leaving them a single thing in that apartment.

-

"What are you doing? Who let you in?"

Half an hour later, six burly movers opened the door.

Felix was sprawled out on the couch, scrolling through videos. Seeing so many people come in, he suddenly jumped up.