I Helped an Elderly Man Who Collapsed at a Bus Stop During a Heat Wave – That Evening, I Found a Note He Had Slipped Into My Pocket, and My Hands Started Shaking

« Clara, you have to report her. »

I did what I always did.

« And say what? That she scares me? She owns the building. Who am I? »

Nina wiped down the counter, shaking her head.

« You’re a tenant. You have rights. »

« Fighting for those rights costs money I don’t have, » I said quietly. « I just need to keep my head down until I can save enough to move. »

« You’ve been saying that for a year. »

« And say what? »

I didn’t have an answer for her.

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