As usual, I got up this morning, went to the kitchen to brew coffee, and then I just froze. I saw something odd on the wall where the kitchen and living room meet: a pinkish material was seeping out of a gap. It appeared repulsive and terrible.
I immediately called the landlord because I rent an apartment. His arrival was swift; he was there in thirty minutes.
After giving it a quick inspection and appearing agitated, he stated calmly:
— Don’t worry, it’s only some old insulating foam.
He wiped a portion of the bulk off the wall with a tissue, put on gloves, and walked away as if nothing had happened. However, I thought he was concealing something.
His actions unnerved me. He skipped over the specifics, as if he was eager to get out. I made the decision that I couldn’t ignore it.
When he was gone, I put on gloves, got a knife and a flashlight, and cautiously attempted to look inside the crevice. There was movement inside. I went into a panic. It was a slight yet disagreeable odor. I froze in fear when I finally recognized what it was.
I emailed a picture I took to a friend of mine who works as a biologist.
He contacted me back a few hours later and said it appeared to be a mycelium-covered fungus colony or perhaps parasitic insects using the wall warmth and insulation as a home.
This type of phenomenon occurs in places with limited ventilation or in tropical regions. He claims that it might have been developing for years and that there could be a major health danger, particularly to the respiratory system, if treatment is not received.
I walked out of the apartment right away. Since then, the landlord has not returned my calls.
I keep asking myself, what if it wasn’t just mold? Why did he remove it so quickly? Why wouldn’t he do more research?
I’m afraid something is inside the wall. Perhaps I should never have discovered it.
