I live in ghetto. I live here because as a single 24/7 mother, a full time student cannot afford to live anywhere else. Don't take me wrong, I am not complaining. I have a roof over my and my son's heads. Unlike 6 years ago when I was on the streets, with no place to go, with no money to rent a room. Now I have a roof over my and my son's heads.
And it is okay that I was called f***ing b**ch for asking a person not to smoke in the hall because all the smoke goes to my apartment and suffocates my then 1 year old baby and myself. Because I have a roof over my and my son's head.
And it is okay that one day I was returning home and startled a guy whom I didn't know, never seen him before, was about to pee in the corner of my house's hall. he said that he is was not from here and there are no restroom around, so... I have roof over my and my son's head.
And it is okay that I clean every day like insane and my son is trained not leave any food or traces of food anywhere in the apartment to avoid roaches roaming around, but roaches don't pay attention to our efforts and still feel quite comfortable here, because I have a roof over my and my son's head.
And it is okay that a couple with my son's age child wanted to become friends with me and after they knew where I live, started to avoid me and my son and look down at me, because I have a roof over my and my son's heads.
And it is okay that I have to pretend that I didn't hear when the parents of my son's friends imply that the next playdate would be at my place. I do this because they are too dear for me to loose them to stigma about "projects". I am afraid that they will act like the couple from a previous chapter. I have a roof over my and my son's heads.
And it is okay that when I go to a date I pick a place for a meeting far from where I live, so it would never get into a guy's head that I live in ghetto, otherwise I will miss a chance to socialize in a normal atmosphere, because I have a roof over my and my son's head.
