This is probably one of the weirdest arrangements I've ever been in.

A couple of years ago, I was moving to a new city for college and desperately needed somewhere affordable to live. I joined a local Facebook group for people looking for roommates, but after two different housing arrangements fell through, I was running out of options. Classes were about to start, and I was genuinely starting to panic.

Then I got a message that completely caught me off guard.

It wasn't from someone looking for a roommate. It was from a mom.

She explained that her child had a hard time making friends and keeping roommates. People would move in, but they never stayed long. She was worried about them being alone and said she'd do almost anything to find someone willing to live with them.

Then she made me an offer.

She would personally pay half of my rent every month if I agreed to be their roommate... and actually be their friend.

At the time, I was broke, stressed, and running out of options. A nice apartment at half the cost sounded impossible to pass up, so I agreed.

I've kept my end of the bargain.

The problem is... I absolutely cannot stand living with them.

They're unbelievably messy, have almost no social awareness, rely on everyone else for the simplest things, constantly create drama in their personal life, and are honestly one of the most exhausting people I've ever met. Every day feels like a test of patience.

If I were paying full rent, I probably would've moved out a long time ago.

But every month that rent discount hits, I remind myself why I'm still here.

The part that makes me feel guilty is that they genuinely think we're close friends. I smile, hang out with them, make conversation, and try to be kind because that's what I agreed to do. I don't fake being cruel or anything like that. I treat them well.

But if I'm being honest, if the payments stopped tomorrow, I'd probably start looking for another place almost immediately.

I also feel bad for them.

Their mom clearly knows how difficult they are to live with, otherwise she never would've offered a stranger money just to stick around. That realization is honestly kind of sad.

I've never told anyone in real life about this because I know if my roommate ever found out the arrangement, or worse, realized I mostly stayed because of the money, it would absolutely crush them.

So I keep pretending everything is normal... and collecting half my rent every month.