My Roommate’s Girlfriend Leaves A Clothespin On The Showerhead—But The Truth Silenced Me
My roommate Paolo’s girlfriend, Imani, often stayed over and consistently left a clothespin on our showerhead. It puzzled me—why? I hesitated to ask, as we only exchanged polite hellos. I noticed a pattern: Imani showers, clothespin appears. One day, it was gone, and the shower’s water pressure was weak. We replaced the showerhead, and the clothespin reappeared weeks later.
I asked friends for guesses—one thought it adjusted water flow. I casually asked Imani; she called it a “weird habit” and dodged further questions. I tested it—no change in the shower.
One night, alone with Imani, she shared the truth. Her late father used a clothespin to lessen shower spray, believing it helped his migraines. After his death, she did it to feel connected to him. My irritation became understanding; her quirk was grief in routine.
We bonded over stories and cooking. But when Paolo lost his job and snapped at Imani, they broke up. She left, leaving the clothespin with a note: “Clip this and breathe.” I hung it above my bed—a reminder that small habits hold deep stories of love and loss.
