New Naked Life

My name is Henry. I'm a 20 year old college student who is really trying to figure my life out. Things had been really hard since my parents had passed. I had gone through my youth and teenage years dependent on my grandparents but their health had taken a turn and they both passed in quick succession about 8 months ago. They had been on a decline for a while, so arrangements had been made, and I had come to terms with it. Although it was still difficult to process, I had accepted that I am on my own from now on.

College had started out well enough for me, I was making friends, passing classes. Everything I needed to do to set my life up for success was falling into place.

Of course, no good thing is able to last. As I was preparing for midterms during my second year, I was informed that there would not be enough financial aid left for me to stay on campus to take classes and secure housing for the summer. I had already reached my maximum for the school year.

I was gut punched. I had been working so hard, and now all of a sudden I had nowhere else to go. When classes ended I'd have to find something fast. All of my friends would be returning to their hometowns over the summer, and I'd be here trying to make it by. I quickly found myself a little gig as a bar back at a local dive and at least knew I'd have stable income. The problem was finding a place to stay for a short term. Every apartment complex I spoke with had no availability for month to month, and if they did, it was outrageously overpriced. I felt hopeless.

Having all but gave up, I stumbled upon a flyer on the community board in the dining hall advertising a room to rent by a fellow student.

"Summer room available to rent -

$500 a month, all bills included

Call or text 555-6079 to set up meeting"

My mind immediately said this was the answer to my problem. My gut was weirded out that there wasn't more info and I didn't know what I'd be stepping into. But at this point, what choice did I have, right?