Two Decades Later, I Fired the Roommate Who Screwed Me Over — Sweet, Strategic Revenge
They say time heals all wounds—but sometimes, time just sharpens the memory. When a 20-year-old tenant skipped out on rent and left a friend to get evicted, he brushed it off with a smug “not my problem.” But 20 years later, karma came calling—and it wore a foreman’s uniform.
This is the story of how one man played the long game, letting karma catch up with a toxic, racist ex-roommate who nearly ruined his life. When their paths crossed again at a new job, the tables turned. And this time, there was no laughing off the consequences.
There are some things so atrocious that you can’t possibly forgive and forget
It took one person two decades to get revenge on their enemy, but when it finally happened, it was worth the wait
Some Debts Don’t Expire—Especially When They’re Personal
In your twenties, you’re supposed to be learning, building, falling, and getting back up. But what happens when someone knocks you down—and laughs as you fall?
When the narrator of this story was just 20, they extended a helping hand to a coworker in crisis. After a DUI, the man needed a place closer to the city, and the narrator—struggling with a blown-out knee and tight finances—let him move into their spare room.
But compassion was met with betrayal.
The Roommate from Hell
The roommate turned out to be openly racist, misogynistic, and a professional contrarian—someone who argued just to argue. Still, the narrator tolerated him for a while. Until the man broke his hand and simply stopped paying rent.
No discussion. No partial payments. No plan. He just ghosted the responsibility.
Then he moved out mid-month, unannounced. The lease was solely in the narrator’s name, and with no backup income, eviction followed. Forced to move back in with their parents, the narrator confronted the former roommate.
The response?
“Not my problem. I wasn’t on the lease.”
And then he laughed.
The Long Game Begins
Life moved on. Years passed. But memories like that don’t fade—they solidify.
Fast forward nearly 20 years. The narrator, now a foreman at a new company, had worked hard, climbed the ranks, and earned their leadership position.
And guess who walked in?
That same roommate—now just another entry-level hire. No promotions. No progress. Just a guy coasting through life.
Baiting the Bigot
The narrator didn’t strike immediately. Revenge isn’t just about payback—it’s about timing. They knew the man’s weaknesses: his volatile opinions and his inability to keep his mouth shut.
So, the narrator laid bait.
In passing conversations, they’d say things like:
- “I think liberals get too much hate.”
- “Honestly, immigration has done a lot for this country.”
- “It’s nice to see more women taking leadership roles.”
And like clockwork, the roommate-turned-employee took the bait every time. He’d erupt into inappropriate, offensive tirades right on the job site. Loud, inflammatory, and impossible to ignore.
Each incident got documented. Each outburst got written up.
The Final Straw: HR Has Entered the Chat
Eventually, he crossed the line one too many times.
In a final blow-up, he let loose a racist rant within earshot of multiple coworkers and supervisors. At that moment, the narrator did what he’d been building toward for two decades:
He fired him.
On the spot.
With HR backing the decision, there was no escape, no justification. Just the cold weight of professional consequences landing squarely on a man who’d never once considered the impact of his actions.
Was It Petty? Maybe. Was It Justified? Absolutely.
Some might call it petty. Holding a grudge for 20 years? Firing someone over personal history?
But that’s not what happened.
What happened is that a man refused to evolve, refused to take accountability, and thought his old ways would always get him by. What he didn’t realize is that character matters, and that the world—and the workplace—has changed.
This wasn’t revenge over an unpaid rent check. It was justice for the years of chaos, dismissal, and gaslighting that came with it.
Why This Resonates With So Many
Stories like this resonate because they flip the power dynamic. The underdog becomes the leader. The gaslit becomes the gatekeeper. It’s not about vengeance—it’s about validation.
Everyone’s encountered someone like this:
- The coworker who skates by
- The roommate who doesn’t pay rent
- The person who leaves others in ruin and shrugs it off
And we all wonder: Will they ever get what’s coming to them?
This story answers that with a satisfying: Yes.
Final Thought: Let Karma Cook—She’s Worth the Wait
Revenge doesn’t always need a plan. Sometimes, life does the heavy lifting. But when the opportunity comes and you’re in a position to act fairly, legally, and within policy—you take it.
In the end, this wasn’t about ruining someone’s life. It was about letting actions catch up with consequences, even if it took two decades and a job title to get there.
So no—this wasn’t petty.
It was poetic.
