This is a long story, but I'm so mad and aggravated right now. After college, I had a degree in elementary education, but I had trouble finding a job. I applied everywhere, but I wasn't having any luck. My friend (whom I'll call R) was having a similiar problem. Anyway, I decided to go back to Mingo County, WV where I had subbed in the past. I applied for some teaching positions, but wasn't hired. However, one teacher who was hired decided to switch jobs so I was able to have her position as a long-term sub until the job was reposted. I was thrilled. I had been staying with my father, but now I wanted a place of my own. It was difficult for just one person, so I invited R to come up and look for a job as well. She was hesitant, but I said that it was almost a given she could work - and it was easier for two people to pay rent. She agreed and we found a house to rent.

She wasn't working at first, and was worried about her share of the bills. Here's where I made mistake #1 - I told her not to worry and that I would pay everything until she got started working. She thanked me, and her parents even said how they would pay me back. I said not to worry about it. Due to circumstances, she wasn't able to start working until late November/early December. She didn't pay in December, but I didn't say anything as she had just started working and it was near Christmas. January came and she still didn't pay. Finally, in February I said something and she paid part of her bills. She complained about not having enough money, but I wasn't very sympathetic. She didn't even work every day that she could. I had heard her turn down jobs. Anyway, the first of March she was overdrawn at the bank and asked to borrow money. I lent her $300, which she paid back later, but of course she didn't pay any of the bills.

April there was no payment, so at the end of May I wrote up what she owed for April and May - which was $726. I was at my Mom's when I talked to her that weekend. She complained of bills, but still said she would pay. She gave me $700, and I didn't quibble over the remaining twenty-six. Things were okay.

The summer came, and I had been riffed, which meant my contract hadn't been renewed. I had a job the following year, but I wouldn't be paid over the summer. R got a job at Peebles for money, while I went to my mom's. Mom had just bought a new house and I was helping her set things up. I came back to pay my part of the rent, but R refused to pay anything. She said she wasn't making enough money. I should have moved out then, but I had signed a year's lease that wasn't up until September. I did tell the landlords of the trouble though.

I paid what I could during the summer, but fell behind in payments. R did start paying, but told me I just had to understand she was going to be a month behind. Even when she did pay, she only wanted part of her half. In Decemeber, I got $300 electric bill, but she refused to pay half. She said we should just pay enough to keep it from being cut off. I didn't want to, but I had to because I couldn't pay all of it on my own. Things were getting worse.

All this time, I was feeling sicker and sicker. Finally, I went to the doctor who did some routine blood work. I went back two days later, and found that I was in kidney failure. I went to a nephrologist who told me I would be starting dialysis soon. To be honest, I was scared.

R wouldn't talk to me during this time. She would stay on the computer with her headphones on. If I tried to speak to her, she would dramatically pull out a headphone and say, "What?" in an annoyed tone. Sometimes, she just ignore me. My father was there one day and even saw it. After an issue with my heart at school one day put me in the hospital, I went to my dad's house. (The kidney problems has caused an irregular heart beat and high blood pressure.) She IMed me and asked why I was pulling away. I told her she hadn't wanted to talk with me. She apologized, and then asked if she needed to move out. I told her I would be moving out, but there was no rush. I wouldn't try to make her find a new place in the middle of the school year, so I'd pay my half until school was out.

That wasn't good enough for her. She found a place and moved, but refused to pay the last of the rent. Her parents blamed me, her mom telling me to my face that this was all my fault. She left the house a wreck, and it took me two days with my Mom to clean it up so I'd get the deposit back. I told her I was doing a walk through on Saturday and needed her keys and such. She agreed, but never gave me the keys. Now, she won't talk to me. She won't answer e-mails and didn't give me her new number. She has her keys, and still owes me for rent, electric, and the cable bill - not to mention that three months last summer. She also took a bunch of my stuff when she moved out - pots, towels, etc. I'm so frustrated right now.