Family Landlords Raise the Rent to Force One Sister Out
I taped the second box, pressing the adhesive down with the palm of my hand until it was perfectly smooth.
By ten o’clock, the living room was dark, but my bedroom light was still on.
I folded my sweaters and laid them in the bottom of the largest box, placing the heavy wool ones first to create a solid base.
The window next to my bed was streaked with long, crooked lines of water, reflecting the yellow glow of the streetlamp outside.
I went into the closet and pulled down my winter coats, folding them twice before placing them on top of the sweaters.
My hands were steady, but my silver watch dial felt cold against my wrist as I adjusted the strap.
I walked back into the living room to retrieve the small oil painting of the Oregon coast that I had bought at an estate sale during my first week in the apartment.
Vanessa was asleep on the sofa, the television screen casting blue shadows across her face and her empty designer purse lying on the floor.
