Tyler Was Twenty-Six
He wasn’t in school.
He wasn’t recovering from an illness.
He wasn’t temporarily between apartments.
He had lived in their parents’ finished basement for almost three years.
Tyler worked irregular construction jobs and occasionally helped a friend with landscaping.
Some months he earned decent money.
Other months he barely worked.
Whenever Kayla asked why Tyler didn’t pay rent, the answer changed.
Her mother would say:
“He’s trying to get back on his feet.”
Her father would say:
“His income isn’t stable.”
Kayla once replied:
“Wouldn’t paying rent encourage him to make it stable?”
Her father didn’t appreciate that.
“Don’t worry about your brother.”
So Kayla stopped asking.
Mostly.
Then Her Rent Went Up
After ten months, her parents raised it from $600 to $700.
Her father explained that groceries and utilities had become more expensive.
Kayla didn’t argue.
She picked up weekend shifts at a local event venue.
Some Saturdays she worked from 8 a.m. until nearly midnight between both jobs.
She kept a spreadsheet.
Rent.
Car insurance.
Phone.
Student loan.
Savings.
She wanted $15,000 before moving out.
It was exhausting.
But she was getting close.
Tyler, meanwhile, had recently stopped working with the landscaping company.
He spent most mornings at home.
And somehow, nobody mentioned rent.
