{"id":1807,"date":"2024-07-25T11:17:41","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T10:17:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=1807"},"modified":"2024-07-25T11:17:42","modified_gmt":"2024-07-25T10:17:42","slug":"my-downstairs-neighbor-asked-me-to-be-quieter-at-night-but-i-have-not-been-home-for-the-past-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/?p=1807","title":{"rendered":"My Downstairs Neighbor Asked Me to Be Quieter at Night, but I Have Not Been Home for the past Week"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n


When Piper returns from a trip with her friends, she cannot wait to get home to her husband. But as she unpacks her car, a neighbor approaches her, complaining about the noise from her apartment. If Piper wasn\u2019t home, who was Matthew entertaining in her absence?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had just returned from a blissful week-long camping trip with my friends. It was all about us taking time away from our lives and enjoying being away from the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My husband, Matthew, had stayed behind, claiming that he needed to stay at home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman sitting outside and looking at the view | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI have to be home, Piper,\u201d he said when I was packing my bags. \u201cIt\u2019s just work responsibilities. There are meetings and presentations coming up.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAre you sure?\u201d I asked him. \u201cWhy don\u2019t you come along, and then we can find you a place to work in between it all?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew smiled at me and sat down on the bed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman sitting on a suitcase | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay, sweetheart,\u201d he said. \u201cYou go and join the others and have fun. You need some time away from this place.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He continued to persuade me to go on the trip, and eventually, I gave in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling man | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re sure, then it\u2019s settled. I\u2019ll go,\u201d I said. \u201cBut I\u2019ll meal prep your food for you before I go.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Two weeks later, I was back home, feeling rejuvenated and happy to be back with my husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of food in containers | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI missed you,\u201d I said when I walked into the house.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew was cooking for us, music was playing in the background, and I felt grateful that I could come home to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m just going to unpack the car,\u201d I said. \u201cBut dinner smells great!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A man cooking | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I went outside and began to unpack my things when our downstairs neighbor, Mrs. Peterson, approached me by the car. Her stern expression made me pause everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIs everything okay?\u201d I asked her, ready to jump at whatever she needed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNo, Piper,\u201d she said, crossing her arms. \u201cI know that you and your husband are a young couple and stay up until the late hours. But could you try and keep it quiet at night? At least from about nine-thirty. For the past week, I could barely sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An older woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I blinked, taken aback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat? Mrs. Peterson, I haven\u2019t been home all week. Are you sure that it was coming from our place?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The old woman frowned, and I could tell that she was trying to see if I was joking or not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWell, someone was making a lot of noise, Piper,\u201d she said. \u201cIt sounded like a party every single night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"People<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

People gathering in an apartment | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wasn\u2019t sure what I was listening to. I knew that Matthew was a good guy, but we were on the top floor, and there wasn\u2019t anyone living above us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was there a possibility that I didn\u2019t know my husband as well as I thought?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I apologized profusely, my mind racing. As soon as she walked away, I rushed upstairs to confront Matthew. I needed to know what Mrs. Peterson was talking about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman looking straight ahead | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If he had been entertaining people, then that was one thing, and it was okay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But what if he was having an affair?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A silhouette of a couple | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cStop it,\u201d I muttered to myself as I stood in the elevator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I found my husband lounging on the couch, watching TV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMatt, we need to talk,\u201d I said, my voice giving me away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He looked at me, picked up the remote, and switched the TV off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A man sitting on a couch and watching TV | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Piper?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cMrs. Peterson just complained about noise coming from our apartment every night last week. I wasn\u2019t here, Matthew. What the hell is going on, and who were you making so much noise with?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My husband\u2019s face paled, and he buried his face in his hands. My heart sank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A man holding his head | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There was something about the resignation of his body that made me think that he was guilty. But guilty of what?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Was he simply guilty of having friends over? Or an affair?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cPlease, just tell me the truth,\u201d I pleaded, sitting down on the couch across from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A frowning woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m not having an affair,\u201d he muttered, barely audible. \u201cAnd I know that\u2019s what you\u2019re thinking. But I was just ashamed to tell you the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhat truth? What do you mean? What\u2019s going on?\u201d I asked, the questions hurling themselves at Matthew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My husband took a deep breath and looked up, his eyes filled with something that I couldn\u2019t understand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a man | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI lost my job a few months ago, Piper. I didn\u2019t know how to tell you. But I\u2019ve been desperate to make money so that you wouldn\u2019t notice the shortfall. While you were gone, I rented out our apartment to make some money. I stayed at Trent\u2019s place while the apartment was rented out.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Two<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Two men sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I sighed, the relief and confusion dissipating from my body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cSo, the noise was from the people who rented out the place?\u201d I asked, needing to hear it from him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He nodded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m sorry, love,\u201d Matthew said. \u201cI just didn\u2019t know how to tell you. I didn\u2019t want you to worry. And I didn\u2019t want you to miss the trip just because of me. I also had an interview during the first week, and I wasn\u2019t about to reschedule it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A smiling man in an interview | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhy didn\u2019t you just tell me, Matt?\u201d I asked. \u201cWe could have figured something out together.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI know,\u201d he said, his voice breaking. \u201cBut I was just scared about letting you down.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I took a deep breath, trying to process everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman sitting on a couch | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a team, Matthew,\u201d I said. \u201cYou don\u2019t have to face things like these alone. We can deal with this together. That\u2019s what marriage is about.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My husband smiled and pulled me toward him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI understand that now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A couple sitting on a couch together | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We sat in silence for a while, both trying to figure out the next move. I knew that he would have been trying to find another job, and I didn\u2019t want to ask him a million questions about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He would tell me when something came up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cCome,\u201d he said. \u201cLet\u2019s eat.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A couple sitting together at a table | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We sat down at the table, and Matthew asked me about the trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTell me everything,\u201d he said. \u201cDid Liam get drunk and do something stupid?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course he did!\u201d I laughed as Matthew poured me a glass of wine. \u201cHe tried moonshine from some other campers and ended up streaking, running through tents.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A man drinking | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI bet Sasha wasn\u2019t impressed,\u201d Matthew laughed. \u201cThat couple is always disagreeing.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we did the dishes together that evening, Matthew sighed and leaned against the counter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you for understanding,\u201d he said. \u201cThank you for not thinking that I was covering up an affair.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I smiled at my husband, ashamed that I entertained the thought of him having another woman in our home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A close-up of a smiling woman | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut did you make sure to change the bedding?\u201d I asked him. \u201cI\u2019m not about to sleep in a bed that other people have been in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matthew laughed loudly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOur bedroom was locked, darling,\u201d he said. \u201cThey only used the guest room.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A bedroom with open windows | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the next few days, we talked about everything. We spoke about the loss of his job, the financial strain, and our plan moving forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m actively looking, Piper,\u201d he said over coffee and toast the next morning. \u201cI\u2019ve set up alerts for job positions that I would fit into. And I\u2019ve cut down on any other unnecessary expenses. This isn\u2019t going to be for long. I can promise you that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for Mrs. Peterson, I went downstairs to her apartment, ready to explain everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A couple talking | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d I said. \u201cI didn\u2019t know about everything Matthew was going through. And he ended up letting our apartment out as an Airbnb for the week, just to make some money off it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOh, honey,\u201d she said, her eyes softening as she put the kettle on. \u201cIt\u2019s okay! I understand it now. I just thought that you two were taking advantage of the situation. But I get it now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThank you for understanding,\u201d I said. \u201cWe just need a minute to get back on our feet.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"An<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

An old woman sitting at a table | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mrs. Peterson faffed around the kitchen, making us some tea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLook, Piper,\u201d she said, giving me a plate of biscuits. \u201cI\u2019m here and willing to help you out if you ever need the help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It turned out that in her youth, Mrs. Peterson had been through tough times herself and knew how hard it could be to ask for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"A<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A woman holding a plate of biscuits | Source: Midjourney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What would you have done?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When Piper returns from a trip with her friends, she cannot wait to get home to her husband. But as she unpacks her car, a […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1808,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1807","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1807","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1807"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1807\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1809,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1807\/revisions\/1809"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1808"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1807"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1807"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/news5.chainityai.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1807"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}