Before Ryan, our apartment was a peaceful sanctuary amidst our hectic lives as a junior doctor and marketing professional. But when Jenna’s boyfriend started raiding our fridge daily, it turned our once harmonious home into a battleground over groceries and respect.

My name is Emma, a junior doctor with grueling hours. Living with Jenna had been harmonious despite our busy schedules, but Ryan’s presence changed everything. He was here daily, eating my groceries as if they were his. No matter how much I stocked up, the fridge was always empty.

“Jenna,” I said one night, “Ryan ate all my groceries again.”

She shrugged. “He’s just hungry, Emma. He Venmo’s you the money, doesn’t he?”

“That’s not the point,” I replied, frustrated. “I need the food I buy.”

Jenna dismissed it, and Ryan continued. I labeled my groceries with absurdly high prices: $50 for milk, $20 for broccoli. Ryan was shocked but paid the inflated amounts. With his money, I bought a mini fridge with a lock.

Finally, my food was safe. No more empty fridge, no more frustration. Jenna noticed my happier demeanor, but Ryan grumbled. “You didn’t have to go that far,” he said.

“It wasn’t just food,” I replied firmly. “It was about respect and boundaries.”

I learned that setting boundaries is crucial. Taking control of the fridge situation made a huge difference. Sometimes, cleverness and determination can solve even the most frustrating problems.