I should have asked permission before using my friend’s portable space heater, but I did it anyway.
I was sitting there with the furnace in my house, I was still a bit shaky even having it, but not from the temperature outside at this point, but from taking his unit.
My neighbor who lives nearby told me that they just bought a portable space furnace and were raving about how hot and cozy it made their apartment feel. I decided to abruptly grab it, and I would bring it back in the day. Back at home I felt horrible. In addition to having stolen something that wasn’t mine, I felt bad because I knew my neighbor might need the furnace as well. If they felt chilly and had no other way to stay warm, what would happen? I made an effort to suppress my guilt as I went about my evening, savoring the warmth that the borrowed furnace provided. But I couldn’t help feeling guilty every time I looked at it. I made the decision to act morally as the night wore on because I couldn’t shake the guilt I was feeling. I apologized for stealing the furnace from her over the phone to my friend. The fact that I didn’t ask them before borrowing it still made them upset, but they understood. The next afternoon I delivered a handwritten note of apology, along with the portable space furnace, back to my friend’s door. I promised that I would never take something from them without their permission again, and I promised to make it up to them in any way I could.