When Lena moved into the small apartment next door, she seemed like anyone else trying to rebuild her life. She was polite, quiet, and always apologized when she knocked on my door asking for help. At first, it was small amounts—fifty dollars for groceries, a little more for car repairs so she wouldn’t lose her job. Each time, she promised to pay me back soon. I believed her because she never asked for anything beyond what she needed to keep going.
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