Things Are Starting to Look Up

Apart from the controlling aspect of yesterday with how to dress, what to wear, and how to present ourselves, the day actually turned out to be a good one. After everything we have been through, it feels strange to say this, but things are starting to look up.

We met with the landlord for the place we applied to and finally got to see it in person. The pictures truly did not do it justice.

It is a three bedroom, two full bathroom apartment with a big living room, a decent sized dining room, and a small but functional kitchen. The kitchen actually has cabinet space, which is something our last house seriously lacked. There is also a laundry room right off the kitchen with a washer and dryer hidden behind doors. That alone felt like a luxury.

There is a small extra room that would be perfect for a home office if I finally land the work from home job I am hoping for. Just knowing that space exists made the future feel a little more real.

The two main bedrooms are a good size and noticeably bigger than our last place, and much better than the basement situation we have been living in. The third bedroom is small, but it is the perfect size for a four year old. Every single room has a closet, which may seem like a small thing, but it matters when storage has been an ongoing struggle.

There is also a nice balcony, and the location is within walking distance of everything. That kind of convenience feels like a win after so much instability.

Meeting the Landlord

We met the landlord during the showing, and he genuinely seemed like a nice guy. He lives close by, which is a huge plus. Our previous landlord lived an hour away and was never able to come by when things needed fixing, and I am not talking about minor issues.

Because of our rental history, he asked for one thing in writing. He wanted confirmation that we were evicted specifically for non payment and not for anything illegal. He was clear that he just wanted to be sure. I was able to get that documentation for him, and by 9:00 last night we received the call.

We got the place.

We can move in this weekend.

Happy freaking birthday to me.

I will not pretend this did not hit me emotionally. We needed this so badly. Having things are starting to look up actually feel true for once is overwhelming in the best way.

Unexpected Kindness

On top of that, something else happened that reminded me how kind people can still be.

I had messaged a woman on Facebook Marketplace about a TV. At the beginning of my message, I explained that we lost our house back in August and lost almost everything we owned, so we were starting over. She messaged me back and told me she had several items she would be willing to donate to us.

Tomorrow evening, his mom and I are going to go over to her house to see what she has and figure out whether we need to rent a U Haul. People with this level of generosity are rare, and it honestly caught me off guard.

I am keeping my expectations realistic, though. Her listing mentioned that she is moving out of the country, and those types of posts can sometimes be scams. So I am hopeful, but cautious.

Letting Myself Feel Hope

We had a rough ending to 2025, and the beginning of 2026 was not much gentler. Still, right now, things are starting to look up, and I am allowing myself to feel hopeful for the future.

That alone feels like progress.

Question:

Have you ever reached a point where things started to look up after a long period of uncertainty?