Living in an apartment building can be surprisingly intimate.
Love lives, the enthusiasm of pets, and musical tastes are all on full display, whether we were curious or not.
And, as one Redditor recently described, there are the sounds of babies. They posted about a recent incident on the “Am I the A**hole (AITA)” subReddit.
The Original Poster (OP), known as astralluvr, offered a sneak peak at the drama in the title:
“AITA for not buying things for my neighbor with a baby after waking up her baby?”
OP began with a quick outline of their living situation.
“I live in an apartment building with very thin walls and floors. We know our downstairs neighbors and that they have an infant.”
“Because of this, we’re always very meticulous when it comes to how hard we walk as it’s extremely easy for one hard foot step to shake the entire apartment.”
Then OP mentioned a recent change.
“I started taking a new medication lately and one of the side effects of it is dizziness, which has been a lot for me.”
“I’m also very anemic as of lately, as I order vitamin supplements that I’ve been out of for a week.”
That would prove to be important.
“Yesterday I was sitting at my table and spilled my water onto the floor. When I got up to clean up the water, I got dizzy, lost my balance and slipped on the water.”
“I fell really fu**ing hard, and I knew it probably made a huge sound.”
“About 15 minutes later as I’m putting band aids on my elbow and knee, I get a call from my downstairs neighbor.”
OP was surprised by their neighbor’s response.
“She began yelling at me, asking me what that huge thud was and how I woke her baby up from his nap.”
“I apologized profusely and explained to her the fact that I fell and how I fell and that next time I’ll be way more careful than I was when it comes to doing something that could cause me to slip and/or fall.”
“She kept on rambling about how furious she was, and how her baby’s health is important, and how she wanted a break etc etc etc.”
A strange request wasn’t far away.
“She then tells me that she wants me to walk to the store and buy her formula, diapers, and a toy.”
“She specified that she wanted me to use my own money as it’s part of ‘my punishment’ for waking up her baby.
“I would like to point out that I’m a minor. It’s also 20 degrees and snowing right now.”
OP decided to tell their parents about it all.
“I was so taken aback that I just said that I wasn’t going to do that, and sorry one more time and hung up in her face. I ended up telling my mom and step father.”
“They said that ultimately she was out of line for talking to me the way she did but that I needed to be more careful and that I shouldn’t have fell so hard, as well as I should have been more careful around my water.”
“I tried to explain to them that I have no control over how hard I fall but they just shrugged. They’re handling it with her now but regardless, AITA?”
Anonymous strangers weighed in by declaring:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
- NAH – No A**holes Here
Most Redditors assured OP she was not the a**hole.
“NTA. That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. What if you had a stroke or seizure? The idea that it’s somehow your fault is absurd. And even if you accidentally drop something, loud noises happen. You still aren’t responsible for anything.” — fosse76
“NTA, honestly you are amazing for trying to keep quiet at all. You don’t have to do that you know. Next time something like this happens explain that you could jump or dance or bang pans together and she couldn’t do a ting about it.”
“But you don’t so she should just be happy with how things are now.” — IllPromotion3251
“NTA, even in the slightest. You were dizzy, you fell due to an accident and she pretend you go outsider and pay for things for her baby as an apologize? No. Absolutely not. You were not wrong. Don’t answer her anymore and don’t listen to these absurd orders of her.” — AlhekaStar
“NTA. You can’t really control how hard you fall, nor is it your fault that everything can be heard so prominently downstairs. Welcome to living in an apartment. At least you’re attempting to do what you can because she has a baby.”
“I am absolutely shocked at your neighbor thinking she can demand anything like that from you. She’s not your parent, she can’t punish you. I mean, just wow. How do people even think that is okay?” — Sleipnir82
Plenty of people chose to keep things in perspective.
“NTA, that’s absolutely ridiculous and shame on your parents for not being more concerned about you!”
“They should have gotten the vitamin supplements for you when you ran out. Being this anemic and sick is very serious.” — Avenging_AngelxX
“NTA you’re anemic and dizzy, you shouldn’t be wasting your time explaining yourself to others, but taking care of yourself.”
“Is it normal you get dizzy like that and lose your balance? Did you get a check up afterwards?”
“I can maybe understand the mom’s behavior because dealing with an infant is hard and putting them to sleep is like sacred, but she should’ve apologized to you after that, is not your fault the floor is so thin.” — asterlynx
“NTA she basically said her baby is more imp then your health and your at fault for falling. You don’t owe her anything especially since it was accidental. I’m glad your ok OP” — Neutralcameron20
Thankfully, the Redditor turned out alright. But here’s hoping she doesn’t spend the future concerned about “how” she falls in her own home.