I took several days.

I didn’t want the decision made by panic, pride, or fear of what strangers would think.

In the end, I accepted assistance toward the immediate housing arrears and my verified lost wages under an agreement Leila negotiated.

I declined the larger personal gift.

It was a choice, not a moral test.

Someone else might have accepted it and still been just as honest as I was.

I used part of the payment to settle the overdue rent.