I should have asked permission before using my friend’s portable space heater, but I did it anyway.
I was sitting there with the heater in my house, I was still a bit cold even having it, but not from the temperature outside at this point, but taking his unit.
My friend who lives nearby told me that they just bought a portable space heater and were raving about how warm and cozy it made their apartment feel. I decided quickly grab it, and I would bring it back in the morning. Back at home, I felt horrible. In addition to having stolen something that wasn’t mine, I felt bad because I knew my friend might need the heater as well. If they felt cold 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 heater 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 heater from her over the phone to my friend. The fact that I didn’t ask them before borrowing it still made them angry, but they understood. The very next day I delivered a handwritten note of apology with the portable space heater back to my friend’s door. I promised that I would never take something from them without their permission again, and I offered to make it up to them in any way I could.