Three years ago, I bought a condo in San Francisco. What should’ve been an exciting step  turned into one of the most mentally and emotionally exhausting experiences of my life.

From the first night, the neighbors above us have harassed, monitored, and falsely accused us of things we haven’t done—mainly smoking weed in our unit, which we simply don’t do. It doesn’t matter if we’re outside or coming back from dinner somehow, everything becomes fuel for their paranoia. They’ve filmed us, our guests, and stood silently watching us in the dark like we’re intruders in our own home.

We’ve dealt with loud, sudden bangs at all hours, stomping directly above us when we’re trying to sleep or work, and gay bashed through our air vents while trying to work. On top of that, they send keyboard warrior emails to the HOA (3 of us) or other neighbors, accusing us of harming their child or causing problems we’re not even remotely responsible for. It’s a campaign of harassment that’s felt very deliberate and deeply personal.

I’ve never had issues with neighbors before. I understand what normal “living noise” is. This has been something else entirely. After years of this, my nervous system is shot—always bracing for the next bang, the next escalation, the next email filled with baseless threats. The chronic stress has affected every part of my life: my work, my body, my sense of safety. I’ve had to recover from serious back surgery under these conditions.

Lately, we’ve noticed signs they’re planning to sell. At first, I felt hopeful. Maybe this nightmare is finally ending. But instead of relief, I feel anger. These people have left a mark. They made what should’ve been a home feel like a prison, and now they get to walk away without any consequences? It doesn’t sit right. On top of that they are making the HOA do a bunch of upgrades now that they want to sell. Wouldn’t address it before.

I’m not looking to start anything or do something illegal but I can’t shake the desire to, at the very least, not make this an easy exit for them. After three years of abuse, it feels like they should at least feel a fraction of the impact they’ve had.

Has anyone else been through something like this? How did you cope? Did you ever feel like getting a little payback—or at least setting the record straight before they go?

Nightly Occurrence