Against All Odds

There was a certain allure in the familiar. I had read once that seeing familiar faces improved mood, and that rang true for me.

When my parents came to visit, I was overcome with happiness; especially that we haven’t seen each other for almost a year!

But as quickly as they had arrived, they were gone again, leaving me with a bittersweet feeling. I retreated to my room, to finally test my new headphones and listen to my favorite composer, Jean Sibelius.

But fate seemed determined to disrupt the classical sacredness of that moment. Just when I began getting into the powerful mood set by those fantastic electric guitars, in walked Elmo, my eternal nemesis.

Thinking of it, certain faces only had the power to ruin one’s mood.

No; it wasn’t about physical ugliness. Elmo was far from ugly. On the contrary; most people would likely label him ‘handsome as hell.’ With his tousled black hair, chiseled jawline, and a fit, athletic build, he definitely attracted attention… Even when chilling at home in his comfy t-shirt, lounge pants, and those old-school slippers, he still managed to look damn good.

I often found myself pondering how someone so good-looking could be so despicable. It was a perplexing reality that truly left me puzzled. But also, a stark reminder that there was more to a person than just a nice body. His sight repulsed me completely, a constant reminder that appearances could be deceiving.

“What's wrong with the washing machine, Lasse?” He asked now, with his infuriating smugness. “It's not functioning properly!”

Oh, no, I sighed to myself, cursing it all. We had this washing machine for so long and there were never any problems – why did it have to break now? It felt as if the whole world was conspiring to make us argue even more than we already had, this week...

“I didn't do anything, okay?!” I informed Elmo, summoning all the calm that I could muster. “I don’t understand why you are here, blaming me...”

At that point, his face contorted into a mocking grin. “Because, you were the one who used it the last time, and, I found a bunch of coins inside the machine! I think that maybe, one got stuck in the internal mechanism somehow, and it's causing the issues!”

“Yeah, as usual, everything’s my fault,” I couldn’t help but retort, feeling the rage within me intensifying, and threatening to consume me whole... It was hard not to let Elmo’s provocations irk me. I hated him, and everything that he did, rubbed me the wrong way.

“Not everything, but this thing in particular, yes,” Elmo spoke.

“Well, I’m sorry. I didn't realize there were coins in my pockets,” I explained, my voice trembling with suppressed anger. “It was an honest mistake, Elmo.”

Elmo narrowed his eyes. “A mistake? This goes beyond that, Lasse. You should have checked your pockets before putting your clothes in the machine! Now we have to call a technician because of your oversight!”

Those unpleasant words echoed within the abysses of my mind for a moment, until a fleeting bird of empathy flew by, reminding me that he was suffering, too... “Let’s just call the technician,” I said, trying to solve the problem.

“Okay, but, I’m not paying for this,” Elmo said begrudgingly, crossing his arms.

“Fine, don’t pay,” I snapped, his uncooperative attitude making me want to sigh with exasperation. “I’ll pay, end of the story.”

“Your money is also money!” He reminded me.

I didn’t respond anything, but after this small event, my mood was obviously ruined. Though I knew that I shouldn’t let people like him affect me, it was hard... And for once, those new-age folks were right; bad vibes were contagious. Another person’s negativity could seep into your life, tarnishing your inner peace for several hours...

I had to let it all out and so, after the technician left, I put my headphones back on; this time, to listen to the best band ever – The Rasmus; after which, I grabbed my phone to text Hellä. I was desperate for some understanding and validation, and she was the only one who could provide it.

Me: Hey. Can you believe what Elmo just did?!

Hellä: What?

Hellä: I’m already upset, even though, I don’t know what’s going on yet, LOL.

Me: He accused me of breaking the washing machine, even though it wasn’t my fault at all!!!

Hellä: Geez...

Hellä: I hope that you can get it repaired soon.

Me: Actually, the technician had just left.

Me: But, I had to pay for it from my own pocket...

Hellä: What?! I can’t believe that he made you pay for it alone.

Hellä: Aren’t you two living together?!

Me: Yeah, but he thinks that it broke because of my coins...

Hellä: If so, then tell him: since you didn’t pay for the repair, you can’t use it anymore/

I paused to try to imagine this type of scenario. It would absolutely enrage Elmo, and cause an even bigger argument...

Me: Come on, Hellä... He needs to wash his clothes, too.

Hellä: I don’t give a damn! He can get a raccoon to do his laundry.

Hellä: Seriously, Lasse, you can’t let him treat you this way!!!

Those words resonated with the pain I was feeling. I had grown weary of being repeatedly lacerated by Elmo's cutting remarks. Each time, it felt like a fresh wound reopening, causing an ache that ran through my entire being. I couldn’t bear to stay around him any longer. I thought of leaving the flat, but I was torn by the practicalities of finding a new place...

Me: This apartment is so close to my job…

Hellä: Screw convenience, Lasse! Your mental well-being matters more than anything. You deserve to live in a safe space, even if it means a longer commute. You can’t keep sacrificing your peace of mind for a job!

Her anger fueled my own indignation. She was right; I deserved better, and Hellä was right there with me, ready to fight against his toxicity.